Q150 IDEAS FESTIVAL PROGRAM HELPS SHAPE A DYNAMIC FUTURE

Arts Minister Rod Welford today announced an innovative program of national and international speakers for the 2009 Ideas Festival at the Cultural Centre, 25-29 March.

Mr Welford said the five-day event, to be held at the State Library of Queensland and across the Cultural Centre, would bring together national and international guests to inspire debate on key issues and challenges of the 21^st century.

“Ideas Festival 2009 comes at a time when we are all searching for new ways to navigate the challenges that we face individually and as a community,” Mr Welford said.

“The challenges we face are environmental, financial and personal. They are about how we find better ways to power our world, shape our cities and involve our children in the search for creative solutions.

“For five days from 25-29 March, Ideas Festival will give Queenslanders of all ages and interests the chance to find something to fascinate and inspire them.”

International speakers on the 2009 Ideas Festival program are as follows: Professor Anna Craft (UK), an expert on fostering creativity in education; John Howkins (UK), author of The Creative Ecologies; Bob Stein, co-Director of the Institute for the Future of the Book; Ghazi Sheikh Ramli, president of the Malaysian Association of Creativity; Geoffrey Robertson QC, human rights lawyer and broadcaster; Helen Greiner, robotics expert; Charles Landry, an international authority on building cities of the future; and Chris Jordan, world-renowned photographer and environmental activist.

The festival also features an impressive list of respected Australian thinkers including, broadcaster Phillip Adams; Ziggy Switkowski; Professor Ian Lowe; Dr Michael Hewitt-Gleeson; and artists Vernon Ah Kee, Judy Watson and Richard Bell.

Mr Welford said the Ideas Festival would be an important contribution to the state’s Q150 celebrations, and would also play a vital role in the Year of Creativity.

“I have declared 2009 the Year of Creativity for Queensland schools, and I believe the festival will complement the activities already happening in classrooms across the state,” he said.

“Over two days, the festival’s schools program, Think Do Tank, will include panels and workshops, giving students some of the tools they need to become educated and informed citizens who can apply their knowledge in creative and innovative ways.

“This is the first time the Ideas Festival has included a dedicated schools program and I look forward to seeing our students get involved, with sessions on design, sustainable cities, transport, science and art and climate change.”

Festival Director Michael Peterson said Ideas Festival was a valuable opportunity for the community to listen to leading thinkers and to also share their own views.

“This Festival is for the ideas makers in us all,” Mr Peterson said. “At this festival, everyone’s ideas are just as important as those of our international guests. We have a chance to create something together and to discover new possibilities when we build bridges between ideas to help turn ideas into action.”

Mr Welford thanked Griffith University, The Courier-Mail, ourbrisbane.com, State Library of Queensland, QPAC and Southbank Corporation for their support of the Ideas Festival. For more information on Ideas Festival 2009 go to www.ideasfestival.com.au

Media contact: Jo Crompton on 3237 1000

5 February 2008