Over the past three years, Create NSW has been through three Executive Directors (or variations in nomenclature), as well as a dose of restructuring after the last state elections in March 2019. It was a wave of change that has effectively destabilised the organisation since it was conceived in late 2016, when Arts NSW and Screen NSW were joined as Create NSW.
Like oil tankers, government organisations don’t ‘turn’ quickly. But after just 10 weeks in the job, Chris Keely acknowledged that the sector is hungry for surety.
He told ArtsHub: ‘The most critical thing for me, after this period of significant change in the organisation, is to be here – present. I absolutely want to be responsive.’
‘I appreciate that out in the community, with the rapid and continuing changes, it may have led to concerns in the sector, but certainly under my leadership the aim is to build a very strong collaborative group to build the sector forward,’ Keely continued.
The position at the helm of the organisation was vacant for several months after Michael Brealey resigned in February 2018, and American conductor, Elizabeth W. Scott, stepped in for a surprising short period as Executive Director, Create Investment and Engagement (August 2018-2019).
Following another restructure of Create NSW’s executive last September, Chris Keely was appointed to lead the organisation, and started in December. For many in the sector, he was a bit of a mystery man – while he certainly had the experience, his was a quieter profile.
He told ArtsHub: ‘I bring a history that shows I am “stayer”. I generally stay in roles seven to ten years. Whether I am on a contract or not, I am a stayer, and I love the opportunity to do important things.’
Keely said that his door is always open to hear from people as to ‘how they can work together to make this a stronger sector’, adding that his management style was collaborative and that he didn’t ‘stand on ceremony very much’.
As soon as Keely moved in, he moved out – literally – dismantling Create NSW executive offices and creating an open office culture. ‘We now have a one team approach,’ he added. ‘Two things I’m very pleased that have happened in quick succession since I arrived is that all the leadership team moved out of their offices, and second, we bought in the Infrastructure Team.’
In the last two weeks, the Cultural Infrastructure Team – which was located at a different address with a different executive – has also been moved into this centralised office. ‘Having the people who are handling the art side of a project alongside those working on the infrastructure is hugely important,’ he added.
Keely admitted, ‘there is a lot of hard work to be done,’ adding that he and his team are really keen to understand the sector’s most pressing priorities.
IS CHRIS KEELY THE RIGHT FIT?
Keely comes to the organisation from his role as General Manager Subscription Television at SBS, where he was responsible for SBS World Movies, SBS Food, and Studio channels broadcast on Foxtel and Austar. He was there for seven years (April 2012-2019).
Prior to that, Keely developed and managed subscription television channels for Viacom (MTV, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr. and Comedy Central) and Optus Vision (Ovation and licensed MTV channels) – what equates to more than 20 years in the screen sector.
Obviously, that sector appreciates Keely’s knowledge, but Create NSW is a very diverse beast. His message to the broader sector was that his most important past mission was ‘to complete the long awaited national arts policy, and ensure that arts and screen sat side-by-side.’
Keely has a background as a media and commercial lawyer, working in intellectual property for arts and screen in Perth, before working for the WA minister for arts. He also advised at a Commonwealth level, most significantly in leading development of Australia’s first cultural policy, Creative Nation (1994).
‘I did a lot of consultation work with Neville Stevens, in the first linking of Communications and the Arts. It was taking a really holistic view of what the culture sector was,’ he added.
In his new role, Keely must be part diplomatic, part magician, part juggler, part entrepreneur and healer. In finding that balance he said: ‘It is all about reputation and trust. We need to show, through our actions, that we are the place to go to, and that our team will advocate for you.’
He believes that despite the change in recent years, the results speak for themselves in terms of the commitment government has made, particularly its confidence in funding cultural infrastructure growth to the turn of $2.5 billion.
SO HOW SUSTAINABLE IS THAT BIG SPEND?
At around the same time Keely started, the Federal Government was ‘dismantling’ the Department of Arts. Only months earlier (March 2019), his own organisation had been re-shuffled within the NSW Government, moving from the Department of Planning & Environment into the Community Engagement portfolio of the Department of Premier and Cabinet.
‘The changes that occurred at the last [NSW] state election meant the Premier brought arts, screen and culture and creative infrastructure right into the heart of government. That is a huge opportunity for the sector, to be at the heart of where decisions are being made,’ said Keely.
At the time of our interview, Keely had been in meetings with government over the forward estimates process.
‘The budget process is under way and we are feeling buoyant. The estimates committee is the way for non-government members to test the government on its programs, and it was a great day yesterday. The achievements we are delivering is the best way to guarantee that the government continues to support the sector,’ he said.
While the spend on infrastructure has been significant, the sector is interested at what level will funding be sustained. Keely’s answer: ‘That is our job. It will always be a task ahead of us to maintain the level of commitment.’
He continued: ‘We need to advocate the benefits of the arts – we do now – but governments are always looking to build jobs and the visitor economy. The work we do (as a sector) that brings in opportunities and economic activity will be a critical part of how we pursue government to continue funding.’
THE 10-WEEK CRYSTAL BALL
Keely said that change never stops. ‘We are not any different to any other organisation; change just is.’
‘What we have ensure the sector, is that we have policies and practices in place so that it doesn’t matter who sits in this chair. What I am trying to instill is a culture that anyone can walk in and take it forward, because this is a team that has worked collectively for the sector for decades and our corporate knowledge bank is incredible,’ he continued.
He said that the greatest thing in front of him now is finding new ways to reach out to the sector so, ‘they know we understand and that we can advocate to government for them in the right way.’
The recent creation of the ten Artform Advisory Boards with 70+ members from the sector plays a vital role in creating a community, breaking down the government edifice, and providing a clear pathway of communication.
‘They are not simply an opportunity to make recommendation to the Minister for funding decisions, but they are an opportunity for us to take the temperature on a very regular basis, and in an informal way, about concerns from the sector,’ Keely said.
It is all sounding very democratic for a government department. As the saying goes – “time will tell” – but then Keely’s self-appointed tag as a stayer is a great moniker for a much-needed dose of stability for the sector.
This interview happened before news of the Coronavirus impact happened. Keely will be commenting separately on how Create NSW is responding to that news.
