4 December – 6 December 2023
University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji
Art and culture can be instrumental in making changes in attitude necessary to address the climate crisis, making the current and projected effects of climate change tangible to a wider constituency. Linking the loss of land and culture experienced by impacted communities, the symposium aims to emphasize a connected and contextualized approach, to better understand shared developments as well as divergent trajectories. How can art and curatorial research help us understand the impact of ecological transformation on social relations and embodied experience locally, regionally, and globally?
Monday, 4 December 2023
08:45am Registration & Coffee
09:00am Opening
09:10am Welcome Addresses
Dr. Stefan Dreyer (Germany), Director Goethe-Institut Jakarta, Indonesia and Regional Director Goethe-Institut Southeast Asia
Prof. Ute Meta Bauer (Germany/Singapore), Founding Director NTU Centre for Contemporary Art, and Professor School of Art, Design, and Media, NTU Singapore
Larry Thomas (Fiji), Acting Director, Oceania Centre for Arts, Culture and Pacific Studies, University of the South Pacific (USP), Fiji
H.E. Dr. Andreas Prothmann (Germany/Fiji), German Ambassador to Fiji
09:30am Keynote by Dr. Frances C. Koya Vaka’uta (Fiji), Team Lead Culture for Development, The Pacific Community (SPC), Fiji
10:30am BREAK
10:45am Case Study: Taholo Kami (Tonga,Fiji), Kami Pacific Solutions
11:15am Case Study: Héa Emélie Katrawi (New Caledonia), Senior Adviser for culture, external relations and promotion of international tourism, Government of New Caledonia
11:45am Case Study: Simione Sevudredre (Fiji), Founder, SauVaka Cultural Foundation, Fiji
12.15am LUNCH BREAK
1:30pm Short Provocation:
Collin Sowani Yabaki (Fiji), Director of Culture, Heritage and Arts, Government of Fiji
Johanna Gusman (USA/Fiji), Adviser, The Pacific Community (SPC) Human Rights and Social Development
2:00pm BREAK
2:15pm Short Provocation:
Fenton Lutunatabua (Fiji), Head of Regions, 350 Pacific, Fiji
Marii Marae (Kiribati), Director, Culture and Museum Division, Ministry of Culture and Internal Affairs (MCIA), Kiribati
3:00pm Ownership of Cultures
Talanoa led by Peter Emberson (Fiji), PhD Scholar, The Norway-Pacific Ocean-Climate Scholarship Programme (N-POC), University of the South Pacific, Fiji, University of Bergen, Norway
6:00pm Welcome Dinner hosted by Germany Embassy and Goethe-Institut
Tuesday, 5 December 2023
08:45am Registration & Coffee
09:00am Welcome
09:10am Keynote: Dr. Joeli Veitayaki (Fiji)
10:00am Case Study: Christine Fung (Fiji), Senior Technical Adviser – Deutsche gesselschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Human Mobility in the Context of Climate Change programme, Fiji
10:30am Case Study: Dr. Fetaomi Tapu-Qiliho (Samoa), Academic Director of the School for International Training in Samoa based at the National University of Samoa (NUS)
11:00am BREAK
11:15am Short Provocations:
Soloseni Penitusi (Tuvalu), Musician
Calvin Rore (Solomon Islands), Artist
11:45pm BREAK
12:00pm Short Provocations:
Michelle Reddy (Fiji), Co-Lead, Partnerships & Resource Mobilization, Pacific Feminist Fund
Peter Sipeli (Fiji), Poet, Arts Manager
12:30pm LUNCH BREAK
2:00pm The Oceans as Commons
Talanoa led by Jason Titifanue (Fiji), PhD candidate, University of Melbourne
6:00pm Dinner
Wednesday, 6 December 2023
08:45am Registration & Coffee
09:00am Welcome
09:15am Keynote: Dr. Annette Kühlem (Germany), Project Director Rapa Nui German Archaeological Institute, Commission for Archaeology of Non-European Cultures
10:00am Case Study: Florence Swamy (Fiji), Executive Director of the Pacific Centre for Peacebuilding, Fiji
10:30am Case Study: Prof. Ute Meta Bauer (Germany/Singapore), Founding Director NTU CCA Singapore, and Professor School of Art Design and Media, NTU
11:00am BREAK
Dr. Rosiana K Lagi (Fiji), Deputy Head of School (Learning, Teaching & Quality) SPACE, Fiji
Regina Lepping (Solomon Islands), Activist and Filmmaker
12:00pm BREAK
12:15pm Short Provocation:
Vivian Obed (Vanuatu), General Manager, Further Arts
Lingikoni Vaka’uta (Tonga/Fiji), Artist
1:00pm LUNCH BREAK
2:30pm Talanoa led by Larry Thomas (Fiji), Acting Director, Oceania Centre for Arts, Culture and Pacific Studies, University of the South Pacific (USP), Fiji
6pm Closing Dinner