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 25: Professor Jo Caust: acclaimed academic talks art, politics and contemporary discourse
In this insightful conversation, Professor Jo Caust shares her remarkable journey from dedicated arts practitioner to renowned academic and author. Caust discusses her early experiences grappling with gender inequality in the arts industry, which motivated her to delve deeper into issues of leadership and power dynamics.
Key Takeaways:
- Caust's trajectory from actor to arts administrator to respected academic, and the role of mentorship along the way
- The complex and often contradictory nature of "leadership" in the arts and cultural sector
- Caust's perspectives on the persistent challenges of gender imbalance and discrimination in the arts
- The tensions between government funding, artistic integrity, and social impact in arts organizations
Caust provides insight into her recent book "Art and Politics: Government and the Arts in Australia", exploring the ambivalent relationship between the arts and the Australian government. She also shares compelling examples of cultural organizations around the world demonstrating exemplary leadership.
This wide-ranging conversation underscores the need for ongoing critical examination of power structures, funding models, and the social responsibilities of arts institutions - all with the aim of fostering more equitable, inclusive, and impactful cultural leadership.
Links:
- Art and Politics: Government and the Arts in Australia"by Jo Caust
- The Conversation - Jo Caust's articles
Connect with Decoding Cultural Leadership on social media
Instagram, Threads, X/Twitter:
@DCLPod
samuelcairnduff.com
@samuelcairnduff
Read Sam's Substack here.
Presenter and research: Sam Cairnduff
Creative Director: Niloofar Pashmforoosh
Presented in association with Limelight
Decoding Cultural Leadership |
Culture. Society. Conversations