Decoding Cultural Leadership
Decoding Cultural Leadership is a podcast that explores the intersection between the arts, culture and society and interrogates what it means to be a cultural leader in the 21st century.
In each episode, host Samuel Cairnduff talks with some of the most influential organisational leaders, creators, policy-makers and thought leaders, building an understanding of their approach to shifting the dial in a complex, constantly changing world.
By talking to influential leaders whose voices resonate in the community, Decoding Cultural Leadership seeks to gain a deeper perspective on how cultural organisations see their role in the community, how they make hard decisions, and how they address the needs of multiple stakeholders.
Culture and society are deeply connected. Decoding Cultural Leadership explores this complex relationship through deep conversation with our greatest cultural leaders. Join us as we decode cultural leadership.
Decoding Cultural Leadership.
Culture. Society. Conversations
Decoding Cultural Leadership
Episode 24: Brian Ritchie: Violent Femmes bassist and Mona Foma artistic director on playing a pivotal role in creating a cultural powerhouse in Tasmania
Guest: Brian Ritchie, bassist of the Violent Femmes and Artistic Director of Mona FOMA
Summary: Brian Ritchie first came to Tasmania in 1989 when the Violent Femmes played a sold-out show at the Hobart City Hall, sparking his long-standing connection to the state. He and his wife Varuni later moved to Tasmania in 2005, initially drawn by Varuni's research trips and their shared love of the Tasmanian landscape.
Brian became involved with Mona (Museum of Old and New Art) from the beginning, helping to establish the Mona FOMA festival in 2009 prior to the museum's opening in 2011. He has served as the Artistic Director of Music at Mona ever since. Brian discusses how Mona has evolved from a more traditional contemporary art museum to one with a strong performative and musical focus, with Brian programming thousands of musical performances across multiple venues each year.
He shares insights into curating an eclectic, diverse festival program that resonates with both local Tasmanian audiences and visitors, as well as navigating the challenges of regional programming. Brian also reflects on his lifelong musical career with the Violent Femmes, the band's evolution and fanbase over 43 years, and his parallel passion for the Japanese shakuhachi flute.
In discussing the intersection of culture and social change, Brian explores the unintended consequences and complexities of artists engaging in political and social issues, as well as the need for more sustainable, locally-focused artistic practices.
Key Takeaways:
- Brian Ritchie's serendipitous journey from the Violent Femmes to becoming a cultural leader in Tasmania, helping to catalyze the state's creative renaissance.
- Mona's pioneering approach to integrating music and performance into a contemporary art museum setting.
- Insights into curating an engaged, diverse festival audience and program in a regional context.
- Brian's reflections on the Violent Femmes' enduring cultural impact and his personal artistic pursuits.
- Considerations around the role of culture in driving social change, and the need for more holistic, sustainable artistic practices.
Links:
Mona – Museum of Old and New Art
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Presenter and research: Sam Cairnduff
Creative Director: Niloofar Pashmforoosh
Presented in association with Limelight
Decoding Cultural Leadership |
Culture. Society. Conversations