Really enjoyed #FACT2026 and wrote up three notes on it here. Thanks again @acmimuseum.bsky.social and @sebchan.bsky.social for organising. www.georgedunford.com/2026/02/thre...

Three thoughts from ACMI's Future of the Arts, Culture and Technology symposium 2026

The mostly official site of George Dunford where he talks about travel, technology, creative industries, digital, books, arts and other guff.

georgedunford.com

From primary school to the UN, we’re all humans in a climate crisis, says Jen. It addresses our reptilian brain. Colonialism, capitalism, all of the -isms sever our relationshoos. How do we proceed without being maladapted? Fundamentalism? Nihilism? No: activism. Know where the joy is. Go. #FACT2026

#FACT2026 was terrific! Thanks to @sebchan.bsky.social and the @acmimuseum.bsky.social team and all speakers, panellists and chairs And to the blusky crew especially @anatolitis.bsky.social Was great to follow along, and make new connections 👏👏

Is 'exhaustion' the new norm for cultural workers?? 🤔 #FACT2026

Esther Anatolitis@anatolitis.bsky.social · 6mo ago

And now it’s time to wrap up #FACT2026. Kate: we need to stop learning the wrong lessons. Learn from those who failed before us. We’re losing more people from the arts than joining. We have no tolerance for what’s unnecessary. Make it better. We’re exhausted. Which is why we need to come together.

Here’s a collection of my approach to advocacy, including live case studies and toolkits, across decades of impact: #FACT2026 estheranatolitis.net/category/adv...

ADVOCACY – ESTHER ANATOLITIS

Posts about ADVOCACY written by Esther Anatolitis

estheranatolitis.net

The "save us" mentality just won't cut it anymore! This was a good (and fiesty!) panel to end the day #FACT2026

Sam is the 💣 More about his work here: samuelcairnduff.com #FACT2026

Samuel Cairnduff

cultural leadership – arts management – communications – media – ethics

samuelcairnduff.com

Esther Anatolitis@anatolitis.bsky.social · 6mo ago

The corporatisation of the bigger arts orgs, says Sam, have boards that aren’t even paid. So there’s the desire to appoint well-connected business people who just don’t understand governance in its ethics or its practice. A token artist or young person doesn’t break that poor culture. #FACT2026

Kate is making a huge lot of sense! Boards need to be brave to unlearn, takes energy but exciting trigger knowing that current models don't work and we don't need to follow current governance practices #FACT2026

Esther Anatolitis@anatolitis.bsky.social · 6mo ago

We’ve got more flexibility to explore governance practices than we think, says Kate. A lot of the ageing models we use are actually optional. Sustainability is ouch and burnout is real. The high-profile governance failures are more and more frequent and entirely avoidable. Embrace change. #FACT2026

Are we addressing those already engaged with climate change? How can we reach naysayers who are not involved in the arts? Something I've been thinking lots about, my current audience research is finding other, more pressing, issues are top of mind for visitors (at this point in time) #FACT2026

"Do dolphins dream in sonar?" Playful questions that lead to discussing the human condition - Nell Whitley #FACT2026 🐬

Keep the joy and be celebratory - Jen Rae Agree that this has been missing from the climate change approaches in museum programs Visitors want to see the joy, see the beauty and be positively inspired to act (my research has found this) #FACT2026

The Posthuman Summer Lab is such a soothing idea... youtu.be/oZje7DA-8aQ?... @troy-innocent.bsky.social #FACT2026

Australian Posthuman Summer Lab 2024

YouTube video by future play lab.

youtu.be

Ok hello! Second-last #FACT2026 session. Right now it’s Sophie Lieberman facilitating where climate and culture intersect with Jen Rae from Centre for Reworlding, Tim Shiel from Green Music Australia, Nell Whitley from Marshmallow Laser Feast, and Troy Innocent from Australian Posthuman Summer Lab.

Great insights and a useful toolkit 👏👏 #FACT2026

A toolkit! Yay! 1. Gathering qualitative insights - observations, informal feedback, playful approaches 2. Analysing- practical tools to look deeply into qual data 3. Translating - insights to action, sharing understandings Here 'tis: www.museumdigitalsocialfutures.net/toolkit/ #FACT2026

A toolkit! Yay! 1. Gathering qualitative insights - observations, informal feedback, playful approaches 2. Analysing- practical tools to look deeply into qual data 3. Translating - insights to action, sharing understandings Here 'tis: www.museumdigitalsocialfutures.net/toolkit/ #FACT2026

@sofiawidmann.bsky.social Great keynote - i enjoyed it very much and many lessons I can use jn my work Sorry didn't tag you as I only just found your bsky handle! Thanks for the re-posts

Interesting panel on the AMaGA digital residency program 'Post-digital' where digital is embedded in the exhibition, not stuck in a corner as an afterthought Pervasive colonisation Great digital work with audiences with disabilities #FACT2026

Shout out to the digital strategist-in-residence program at Creative Australia. A wonderful program pairing digital specialists with small arts organisations to work on their digital capability and strategy Good times! musdigi.wordpress.com/2021/09/06/b... #FACT2026

Being an Australia Council Digital Strategist-in-Residence #DSIR

IMAGE: The New School_Parsons School of Design I’m very excited to announce that I have been selected as one of the Australia Council’s inaugural Digital Strategist-in-Residence (DSIR). The D…

musdigi.wordpress.com

Lovin' the slides! #FACT2026

Step 3. Connection Museum booster was founded to connect museum leaders globally to talk about common. Problems and challenges And the Future Museum project since 2019 'Leadership can be lonely' #FACT2026

Step 2. Action Think creatively about budgets and revenue generation Broaden idea of partnerships Reframe the problem Need to learn how to navigate transformation - learn from other sectors, listen and co-create #FACT2026

(I think to some extent you can control your own budget - musuem management chooses how to spend...) #FACT2026

Step 1. Write down what you fear Naming helps you feel in control and identify what you can influence/control and what you can't Sofia Widmann #FACT2026

Our own psychotherapy session #FACT2026

We are in the "nervous age" Many institutions in Europe fear war Money goes into defence, not culture Sofia Widmann #FACT2026

Ok! ACMI #FACT2026 Day 2 let’s go! No #spills here. All clean and clever and invigorating. Here’s the plan: www.acmi.net.au/whats-on/fac...

Program | Future of Arts, Culture & Technology Symposium | 11 - 13 Feb 2026

Program details: Day one - Contemporary Digital Culture, Day two - Institutional, Creative and Collective Actions, and Day three: Creative Industries & Artificial Intelligence (Closed Session).

acmi.net.au

Day 2! #FACT2026

Had a great day at #FACT2026 today Realising the emoji I used most was this 🤔 Let's see what tomorrow brings!

Early research shows that digital participation in the arts and self-reported loneliness may be linked based on emerging research from Creative Australia. More research to be done but seems like digital may not support connection young people need. #FACT2026