This year has marked many anniversary celebrations, including for City Recital Hall, which celebrates its 20th birthday. It was an ideal location, therefore, for the Symposium of Australian Arts Organisations, which saw leaders of organisations celebrating milestone years gather to discuss the past, present and future of the industry.

City Recital Hall. Photo © Tim da-Rin

NSW Arts Minister Don Harwin kicked off proceedings with a speech congratulating the organisations present, “on behalf of every lover of arts and culture in this state and around Australia, thank you for your outstanding contribution to the arts, music and culture in New South Wales,” he said, though he did not take part in the discussion that followed.

The panel comprised Paul Dyer, Artistic Director of the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, which turns 30 this year, and which hosted the event, Elaine Chia, the CEO of City Recital Hall, Sam Allchurch, Associate Artistic Director of Gondwana Choirs, also celebrating its 30th, who was there to represent Artistic Director Lyn Williams, Rafael Bonachela, Artistic Director of Sydney Dance Company, which turns 50, Mark Gaal, Executive Director, Pathways and Partnerships at NIDA, which turns 60, and Paul Stanhope, Artistic Chair...