What's new

Read here about:

Canberra Conversations
The Gifts of the Furies (to order a CD, please click here)

Canberra Conversations

A Chorus of Women have started a series of citizen conversations on topics of importance for our future. The aim is to see how community engagement and wise decision making can be helped by a more open dialogue among citizens, scientists, artists, business people and policy makers.These ‘Canberra Conversations’ include artistic expression and facilitated discussion to create an environment for active engagement by the people with important issues that will shape the future of the city and country. The aim is to explore different perspectives on issues and try to find the common ground that will inform wise actions. For information on previous Canberra Conversations click here.

If you would like to hear more about this initiative or to help out in any way, please contact us.

Next Canberra Conversation

ACT Legislative Assembly, Civic
Thursday 27 May 2010, 6-9 pm
Topic to be advised

For further information on Canberra Conversations and other activities of A Chorus of Women, see www.chorusofwomen.org or email Janet Salisbury on janetsalisbury25@gmail.com.

Previous Canberra Conversations

Finding wisdom on climate change across the political divide
A Canberra Conversation hosted by A Chorus of Women and the ANU Climate Change Institute
with assistance from an ACT Government Environment Grant
ACT Legislative Assembly, Civic
Thursday 4 March 2010, 6-9 pm

At this Canberra Conversation we considered the recent debate in Australia about emissions trading and the outcomes of the Copenhagen summit, and facilitated a community dialogue around the following questions:

Can we turn a ‘diabolical policy issue’ into an opportunity for wise action?

How could our political leaders and parties work together to find common ground?

Could the ACT Legislative Assembly model a better way of engaging with citizens and working together across the political divide?

Could citizens encourage and empower political leaders to act wisely?

While focusing on climate change, the aim of this conversation was to explore how dialogue can provide the basis for community consideration of difficult and potentially divisive issues, providing a more creative way of developing public policy. To view the flyer click here.

Transport for the Canberra community: thinking together about wise moves
Presented by A Chorus of Women in collaboration with the ANU Climate Change Institute
with assistance from an ACT Government Environment Grant
Theo Notaras Multicultural Centre, London Circuit
Monday 26 October 2009, 6-9pm

Our fourth Canberra Conversation sought to unravel the complexities of this topic and stimulate innovative ways forward. Professor Will Steffen (Executive Director, ANU Climate Change Institute) brought a climate change and sustainability perspective to the conversation, particularly in relation to integrated approaches to transport.To view the flyer click here. For a summary of the event click here. For a response to this Canberra Conversation by ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope click here.

Science and the creative arts: a potent collaboration for change?
A National Science Week Event
CSIRO Discovery Theatre
23 August 2009, 2.30-6pm

Our third Canberra Conversation was held as part of the National Science Week 2009. What can the creative arts contribute to public discourse on global environmental change? And why is it particularly important to bring scientists and artists together in working collaborations, rather than have them work in isolation from one another? These questions and others were addressed in this special Science Week Canberra Conversation. Prominent local scientists and artists were invited to contribute and A Chorus of Women provided live artistic contributions, including original music written and directed by Chorus members Glenda Cloughley, Judith Clingan AM and Johanna McBride. The event was facilitated by Dr Janet Salisbury. For further information click here. For a summary of the event click here.

Emissions Trading - our way forward to greenhouse gas reductions?
Hosted by A Chorus of Women and the ANU Climate Change Institute
ACT Legislative Assembly
26 May 2009, 6-9 pm

For further information click here.

Our second Canberra Conversation revolved around the current political debate about the emissions trading scheme and other ways in which Australia can find the cuts in greenhouse gases that are required to avert dangerous climate change. How can we reconcile environmental needs with political/economic 'imperatives'? How can we have an open dialogue about this most urgent issue that might lead towards creative solutions?

Canberra’s energy future: thinking together about ways forward
Hosted by A Chorus of Women and the ANU Climate Change Institute
ACT Legislative Assembly
26 February 2009, 6-9 pm
70 participants

Our first Canberra Conversation was run in collaboration with the ANU Climate Change Institute and we welcomed Professor Will Steffen, Executive Director of the institute as our co-host for the event. The three-hour conversation combined information exchange with small and whole group discussions, and original songs voicing the social and ethical challenges that these subjects present for our community. Through these elements we hoped to create a non-adversarial environment where we could inform ourselves and other participants on the topic of stationary energy production and use in Canberra and, more importantly, listen carefully to the diversity of views represented in the room. By welcoming diverse opinions and focusing on listening to one another, we sought to imagine shared approaches to tackle the complex issues surrounding energy production and use.

For further information click here. To view the program click here. For a summary of the event click here. Bob Douglas, founder and Chair of SEE-Change and Director of Australia 21 reviewed the event.

The Gifts of the Furies

CD OF THE LIVE PERFORMANCES
To order a 2 CD set of 'The Gifts of the Furies', click here

What can we do but wait in the dark
and watch while the weather roars in?

A Chorus of Canberra Citizens sang an answer to this question about the changing climate in two premiere performances of The Gifts of the Furies in the Great Hall of the Australian National Universityon 29 and 30 March 2009.

Glenda Cloughley’s big story song about climate change is perhaps the first Australian artwork to recognise the mythic scale of the climate change crisis. In beautiful new poetry and music it portrays the predicament of everyone including the artist whose soul is possessed by the fate of the age. Like the myth of the Eumenides the Greek poet Aeschylus dramatized in The Oresteian Trilogy, the new work moves from the dark core of our present situation on the warming Earth towards the possibility of harmony between people and nature.

Click here for more background on the story and the structure of the work.

To listen to an excerpt of Movement Two click here. This will introduce you to Mr Mythos, the songman, in his first encounter with The Furies of Earth. To hear the big voice of our Citizens' Chorus in the Finale of the work, click here.

The March performances of The Gifts of the Furies were presented by A Chorus of Women with Wayfarers Australia and other choristers under the musical direction of Johanna McBride and Judith Clingan AM. After both performances the audience was invited to a conversation with the composer, performers and Chorus. Artist Bronwyn Goss writes:

The two premiere performances of The Gifts of the Furies on the Sunday and Monday nights, in which A Chorus of Women were joined by Wayfarers Canberra, were almost sold out. A Chorus of Women has risen in Canberra, as a phenomenon of our times and its place - a city state at the centre of Australian democracy. ‘Our times’ constitute an increasingly politically savvy and educated population impatient with spin and hubris who are longing for wisdom from decision-makers. And A Chorus of Women has become known for their synthesis of this emotionally intelligent citizens’ voice that speaks through original music and theatre into the concerns of our age. Wayfarers, led by Canberra’s musical genius and inspirational creative spirit, Judith Clingan AM, added sweet young voices and rich male tones to the warm Chorus sound.

Bronwyn Goss goes on to write about her experience as a member of the audience:

There is something about singing that opens the heart and this story-song has activated an emotional telos that runs from a sense of doom towards its longing for wisdom. And the audience can hardly wait to sing their promise with the chorus. You wouldn’t believe how good this felt – to sing my citizen’s voice into this archetypal healing track. ... 'The Gifts of the Furies' is Glenda Cloughley’s own wise and compassionate gift of cultural therapy against the dilemmas of our time. It now needs to do its work amongst us all.

To read Bronwyn Goss' full report, click here.

FURTHER PERFORMANCES
We are actively seeking other opportunities to present the The Gifts of the Furies in whole or part, including in association with academic and scientific meetings. Please contact us or Glenda on 6239 6483 or at glenda.cloughley@ozemail.com.au.

CANBERRA CONVERSATION ABOUT THE ARTS
One of our next Canberra Conversations will be devoted to the role the arts can play in engaging hearts and minds in relation to the challenges of climate change.