Introducing the keynote speaker for 2024 Arts Engagement Conference
BY ANTHONY CASTLE
This year’s Community Arts Engagement Conference (C^E24) will be held at the Treacy Conference Centre with social entrepreneur Peter Kenyon (OAM) as keynote speaker.
Hosted in the surrounds of Melbourne’s Royal Park from 16-18 August, the theme for C^E24 is ‘Made to Create’. Peter will share his knowledge and experience at the weekend, gained from decades of community work.
“I’m a person of faith and often do work around the reinvention of churches, how they reinvent their role and their communications style,” Peter says. “I work in the area of community and economic development. My perspective is strongly of an asset-based model, that every community and every community member has gifts and strengths.”
A community enthusiast and social entrepreneur, Peter Kenyon has worked with more than 2000 communities in Australia and in 59 countries. Peter seeks to facilitate fresh and creative ways that stimulate community and local economic renewal through his organisation, the Bank of I.D.E.A.S.
“The Bank of IDEAS has a very simple vision statement,” Peter says. “We support the development of communities where everyone matters, where everyone belongs, and everyone contributes, with the opportunities to use gifts and talents. It applies to faith-based organisations particularly.”
In the last year, Peter has worked with 70 communities from Margaret River to Launceston to Mission Bay, and convened community-building conferences in Australia, India and New Zealand. As keynote speaker at C^E24, Peter will deliver four sessions, sharing the ideas of asset mapping and community building.
“I never see diversity as a problem,” Peter says. “Rather, it indicates a whole range of gifts that people bring to the table. As an organisation, The Salvation Army has massive organisational gifts, all these services and programs and this amazing mosaic of churches and congregations too.”
C^E24 is for musicians, artists, creatives and those who want to build caring and healthy communities. The conference will focus on practical hands-on insights, workshops, and demonstrations. Sessions include the flagship ‘Just Brass’ program and other engagement programs like Limelight Choir, Just Move and Singing By Heart (Dementia Friendly Singing Groups).
“What I’m particularly interested in is breaking down the barriers between those who serve and those we serve too,” Peter says. “Everyone, no exception, brings gifts to the table. It’s part of our role, part of our mental health and self-worth. Whose gifts are being under-utilised? Often, it’s those who are marginalised, the homeless, young people, older people. The most important question to me is, what do you care about? Everyone cares about something. How do we start with that?”
The Salvation Army Worship Arts Australia sees the potential of music and the arts to achieve its mission of sharing the love of Jesus to transform Australia one life at a time. Christian missional creatives are invited to join this August to reimagine mission through the lens of the arts.
“The arts are a liberating force,” Peter says. “It allows us to get out of our confines. I’ve often found that through the arts, the least engaged become engaged. I very much see my role as a storyteller. I don’t give lectures, I tell stories. I connect stories to practical experiences people can relate to, reminding people that this is what the Kingdom of God is about.”
For more info on C^E24, click here
