OPENING ADDRESS

Imagine cities where public art isn't just decoration, but a catalyst for inclusivity and social change. In this address, Dr. Sanné Mestrom and Nadia Odlum will explore how the intersection of public art and urban sport can revolutionise our approach to city planning, particularly for young adults and other non-traditional urban communities often marginalised in the public realm.

Drawing from practice-led research in both skateboarding and public art, Mestrom and Odlum will delve into the potential gleaned from merging public art and sport to engage young adults. They will examine the 'usability' of public art forms and their capacity to foster social inclusion and environmental sustainability.

This talk challenges conventional urban design, offering fresh perspectives on city representation and lived experiences, while exploring how thoughtful design strategies can reshape how diverse communities navigate and inhabit urban spaces.

Dr. Mestrom, an artist and academic at the University of Sydney, advocates for the transformative power of urban play. As an ARC Research Fellow and artist represented by Sullivan + Strumpf gallery in Sydney, she brings a unique blend of artistic practice and academic research to this vital conversation.

Nadia Odlum is an artist and PhD candidate at Sydney College of the Arts, and Research Assistant on Dr. Mestrom's ARC project ART/PLAY/RISK.

In this illuminating talk, Associate Professor Felicity Fenner, author of “Running the City: Why Public Art Matters” (2017), will set the stage for our symposium by exploring the rich historical and contemporary intersections of art, sport, and urban space. Drawing from her extensive research and curatorial practice, Fenner will trace the evolution of these connections, from early 20th-century avant-garde movements to cutting-edge contemporary practices.

Building on this historical foundation, Prof. Fenner will delve into the power of interdisciplinary public art projects that actively involve communities, particularly young people, in transforming urban environments. She'll showcase how these initiatives can amplify local voices, challenge existing power structures, and create more inclusive cities. Fenner's insights will provide a crucial theoretical and practical framework for the ambitious melding of public art and urban sports, envisioning urban spaces that nurture creativity, foster social connections, and promote the well-being of all people.

Dr. Indigo Willing, skateboarder, sociologist and SSSHARC Visiting Fellowship at the University of Sydney, will present her groundbreaking SkateCER project, an initiative that explores how skateboarding and other creative urban sports contribute to building playful, healthy, and socially inclusive cities. In this talk, Dr. Willing will delve into the project's innovative approach to bridging diverse experiences and perspectives across creative scenes, local communities, and academic disciplines. She'll discuss how SkateCER creates platforms for emerging leaders and overlooked populations, fostering industry presence and career-building opportunities while emphasizing equity for diverse genders and sexualities.

The presentation will showcase SkateCER's collaborative nature, highlighting partnerships with experts like Dr. Sanné Mestrom, Nadia Odlum and A/Professor Lian Loke, which bring together insights from public art, design, and performance studies. Dr. Willing will explain how the project is co-creating inclusive skate spaces through research, creativity, and environmentally aware outcomes, shaped collectively by diverse communities and experts. Attendees will gain insights into how this interdisciplinary approach is reimagining urban spaces to be more inclusive, creative, and sustainable, ultimately contributing to the development of thriving, skateable cities.

Join us for an engaging dialogue between two trailblazers at the intersection of gender equity, urban design, and creative urban sports. Professor Nicole Kalms, founding director of the Monash University XYX Lab and expert in Gender and Place, will converse with Kel Glaister, parkour coach, visual artist, and advocate for inclusivity in urban movement.

Women's everyday movements and activities in the city illuminate the gendered nature of urban space in ways that are often overlooked. This conversation focuses on the everyday spatial practices of marginalised groups to understand how urban rights are truly experienced. This dynamic discussion will explore how we can reshape our cities to be more inclusive and empowering for all, with a special focus on young women and non-binary individuals. Drawing from Kalms' groundbreaking research on gendered urban spaces and Glaister's hands-on experience in breaking down barriers in parkour, they will offer fresh insights into creating urban environments that encourage diverse participation in creative sports. Their conversation will challenge our perceptions of public spaces and inspire new approaches to urban design that celebrate inclusivity, creativity, and freedom of movement for all.

Join Dr. Sanné Mestrom and Dr. Indigo Willing as they present their project co-designing skateable sculptures through a series of innovative workshops. This talk will explore their burgeoning approach to creating urban spaces that are both artistically compelling and functionally inclusive for skaters of all backgrounds.

Dr. Mestrom and Dr. Willing will delve into their creative and collaborative methodologies, showcasing how they engaged diverse populations through focus groups and co-design workshops. They'll discuss the politics and importance of co-design in urban planning, highlighting how this approach can lead to more inclusive and responsive public spaces. The presenters will share insights gathered from participants, with a particular focus on the perspectives of women and non-traditional skaters. This talk promises to challenge conventional notions of public art and skate spaces, and will culminate in the opportunity to experience three new skateable sculptures created by Sanné Mestrom.

Symposium attendees can purchase lunch from one of the numerous cafes on the University of Sydney Camperdown campus. We recommend the Courtyard Cafe just up Science Road and in through the Holmes Building.

Dr Keg de Souza, Mikayla Journee and Prof. David Cross, chaired by Dr Amy Spiers

As we consider the role of public art in improving our urban spaces, it's crucial to examine both its potential benefits and inherent risks. While public art can enliven our cities and foster community engagement, we must be cautious of its potential misuse as a superficial solution to deeper urban issues.

Public art has the power to transform spaces, encourage diverse usage, and contribute to cultural dialogue. However, there's a growing concern that it may be leveraged as a "band-aid" for systemic problems in urban planning and social equity. By focusing on creating visually appealing or interactive artworks, we risk concealing rather than addressing underlying issues of exclusion, gentrification, and urban decay. Moreover, the drive to make public art more accessible or "playable" may inadvertently compromise its artistic integrity and cultural significance.

As we strive to create welcoming environments for all city dwellers, including non-traditional users like skateboarders, we must balance these aims with preserving the critical voice of public art. This panel will draws together key voices from Australia and New Zealand to explore strategies to harness the positive potential of public art while avoiding its pitfalls, ensuring that our efforts genuinely contribute to creating more equitable, diverse, and vibrant urban spaces for all residents.

Join Convic, one of Australia's premier skatepark design and builders, for an exclusive look into the world of world-class skate and youth space creation. Convic will discuss the intricate process behind their designs; navigating complex Clients, Community wants and needs and difficult site constraints.  This will highlight their commitment to learning and adapting to the always evolving process of delivering inclusive youth spaces, and share valuable lessons learned along the way. Discover how they’re shaping the future of urban recreation, one skatepark at a time.

A panel discussion with Sue McGill and Prof. Duncan McDuie-Ra, chaired by Dr. Indigo Willing

This engaging panel explores the evolution of skateboarding from a countercultural movement to an Olympic sport, with a focus on its potential to promote gender equity and inclusivity in public spaces. Our distinguished speakers will discuss the transformation of skateboarding culture and its impact on urban landscapes, strategies for increasing diversity and inclusion in skateboarding and other creative urban sports, and the potential intersection of public art, architecture, and skateboarding in creating more inclusive cities.

Sue McGill is the Director, Participation Growth at the Australian Sports Commission and a skateboarder. Sue has a Masters in Public Policy, a degree in Sports Management and a passion for sharing the power of sport with those who can benefit the most. Skateboarding has taught Sue resilience, provided a sense of belonging, built courage and delivered absolute joy. Sue was instrumental in the development of Australia’s first national participation strategy Play Well, and works with sport organisations across the country to ensure everyone has a place in sport.

Prof. Duncan McDuie-Ra is Professor of urban sociology at the University of Newcastle and Associate Dean of Research. Duncan’s main research interests are urban migration, urban culture, urban play, and urban technology. Duncan’s books on skateboarding include Skateboarding and Urban Landscapes in Asia (Amsterdam Univ Press, 2021) and Skateboard Video: Archiving the City from Below (Springer, 2021). Duncan has authored over 60 journal articles and essays, including in the journals Political Geography, Memory Studies, Geographical Journal, Modern Asian Studies and Mobilities. Duncan is a member of the Australian Research Council’s College of Experts (2023-25).

Join us for network and closing drinks at the Forest Lodge Hotel

Meet Australia's first Indigenous skate company Spinifex Skateboards Team Sydney Tour x SkateCER at Passport Shop and Gallery, 16 Oxford St, Darlinghurst. Free pizza.

Dr Lian Loke is an Associate Professor in Interaction Design at the University of Sydney School of Architecture, Design and Planning. Lian’s research lies in the multi-disciplinary field of human-computer interaction studies the interactivity of humans and machines, explored through a choreographic and somaesthetic lens. It is characterised by the translation of embodied knowledge from dance and somatics into an aesthetics of interaction that radically integrates epistemologies of practice from the arts and sciences.

In this engaging talk Lian will present learnings from the 2019 cross-disciplinary public art project ‘Electrosk8’ staged at Sydenham Skate Park.

Co-Chairs: Prof. Duncan McDuie-Ra and Dr. Indigo Willing

Presenters x 4 session (15 minutes plus 5 Q and A)

Speaker 1 - Dr Dan Johnston (lecturer and Western suburbs skatepark research) Western Sydney Uni

Speaker 2 - Anastasija Kukić, Chaya Skates roller skater and architecture graduate 

Speaker 3 - Evie Ryder, skateboader, socialworker, and co-founder, We Skate QLD and Consent is Rad

Speaker 4 - Grey Barnes (BMX) from Nothing’s Wrong Mag, photographer and Spinifex Team

Attendees may purchase lunch from cafes on campus

Presenters x 4 session (15 minutes plus 5 Q and A)

Co-Chairs:  Dr. Indigo Willing and Nadia Odlum

Speaker 1 - Gavin Drum, artist and roller blader

Speaker 2 - Alicia Mardones Saavedra (roller skater MA candidate USYD)

Speaker 3 - Kirby Clark, Designer, founder Decks for Change and skateboarder

Speaker 4 - Dr Ben Duester, Post Doc. Germany, skateboarder and co-founder, SSHRED network

Join designer, artist and parkour coach Kel Glaister and artist Nadia Odlum for an engaging workshop exploring playful movement in urban space. Learn the principles of 'parkour vision', and then harness them in an imaginative disruption of iconic examples of public art.

Join Dr Sanné Mestrom and Dr Indigo Willing outside the Chau Chak Wing Museum to view, skate and give feedback on new, co-designed skate-able sculptures.

Chaired by Dr Indigo Willing - Evening Panel with Nick Hayes, Poppy Starr Olsen, Timothy Lachlan and HY William Chan at the Chau Chuk Wing Museum. Indigo will also introduce her SkateCER collaborators at the beginning and invite people to talk with us after the Q and A.

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