Five strategies for flourishing in political change
Feeling election fatigue already? Esther Anatolitis’ new book Place, Practice, Politics is an indispensable caution against political disengagement, offering galvanising arguments among moments of joy.
Be nourished by what you do. Eat well. Stay fit. Don’t eat lunch at your desk. Don’t eat or exercise with that rushed feeling like something’s more important. Nourish your body as well as your mind.
Take time to reflect. Establish a reflective practice as part of your work. Don’t buy into the ever-increasing rush that means decisions are made poorly. Make time for deceleration.
Esther Anatolitis is one of Australia’s most influential advocates for arts and culture. She is Editor of Meanjin, Honorary Associate Professor at RMIT School of Art, and a member of the National Gallery of Australia Governing Council. Esther has led arts and media organisations across all artforms, including Express Media, the Emerging Writers' Festival, Craft Victoria, SYN Media, Melbourne Fringe, Regional Arts Victoria and NAVA. Her consultancy Test Pattern focuses on creative practice, policy and precincts, as well as advocacy and public value.
A hallmark of Esther’s arts leadership career has been her tenacious civic engagement, ensuring that artists’ voices and arts issues feature prominently on political agendas. This work has ranged from strategic development and private advice to public events, regional marginal seat forums, candidates’ debates, specialist workshops and Australia’s first advocacy training program for the arts. A prolific writer, Esther’s work regularly appears in literary journals, newspapers, and arts and design media, and she is a regular Arts Hub columnist. Her book Place, Practice, Politics is published by Spurbuch.
Follow Esther on Twitter: @_esther.
