Soft politics or celebration? How the arts promote diversity at Lunar New Year
Is it just a calendar date, or is it opportunity to promote acceptance and diversity via the arts? We speak with Asian Australian artists and arts managers this Lunar New Year.
Lunar New Year (LNY) rolls around on the calendar each year – and just like 31 December is marked by chatter of fireworks and celebrations, at this time of year the conversation also turns to the Chinese zodiac, lanterns, dragons and feasting.
But should we be using this moment of celebration as a platform for deeper discussions across the arts, to lead the public towards conversations about racism and diversity that aren’t always easy to have?
Gina Fairley is ArtsHub's Senior Contributor, after 12 years in the role as National Visual Arts Editor. She has worked for extended periods in America and Southeast Asia, as gallerist, arts administrator and regional contributing editor for a number of magazines, including Hong Kong based Asian Art News and World Sculpture News. She is an Art Tour leader for the AGNSW Members, and lectures regularly on the state of the arts. She is based in Mittagong, regional NSW.
Instagram: fairleygina
