The lost Arts.
What happens when creativity begins to slip from the centre of our culture? How do we get the Arts back on the agenda?
If a thriving arts sector reflects a healthy civilisation, where does it sit in a time of economic pressure, shifting priorities, and global uncertainty? Major events dominate headlines, global entertainment platforms command attention, and local artistic industries are increasingly squeezed. But what does this mean for our identity, our communities, and our future?
Set within Nexus Arts - a space that celebrates creativity - this thought-provoking evening will bring together some leading voices from the arts, philanthropy, and cultural sectors. We’ll move beyond the familiar narrative of “the Arts asking for more” to explore the lived reality of creative careers, the changing funding landscape, and what’s at stake if we allow the Arts to fade from focus.
We’re bringing together voices who sit across the Arts ecosystem—from policy and research to philanthropy and practice.
Facilitated by Nic Jeffries – Artist and CEO of Adelaide Youth Orchestras - speakers include:
- Professor Jo Caust (Arts Academic and Writer)
- Adam Page (Artist, Musician, Composer)
- Margo Hill-Smith (Co-Director, Hill-Smith Art Advisory, Philanthrophist)
Rather than a traditional panel, our speakers will each share their perspective, followed by interactive opportunities to engage more deeply.Expect diverse perspectives, robust discussion, and the kind of conversation you can only have the GLF way
GLF alumni, foundation and honorary members, GLF supporters and sponsors are all welcome to this special event.
When: Tuesday, 14 July 2026
Time: 4:30pm – 7.00pm
Where: Nexus Arts | Lion Arts Centre Corner North Tce & Morphett St, Kaurna Yarta, Adelaide
Cost: Please contribute to the GLF Connect Scholarship instead!
Book now for this special event.
Our events are proudly supported by our sponsors.
Meet your speakers
Professor Josephine Caust PhD is an Honorary Professorial Fellow in the School of Culture and Communication at the University of Melbourne.
Jo has worked in the arts sector as an arts practitioner, manager, senior bureaucrat and consultant. She has worked directly with two State Governments as Director of Women and Arts for the Wran Labor Government from 1981-1983 and with the South Australian Government as the Director of Arts from 1991 to 1994. She also worked at the Australia Council from 1983-1985 as Senior Project Officer and Acting Director of the Theatre Board. As Program Director of the Arts and Cultural Management Program at the University of South Australia from 1997-2011, she established internationally the first fully online postgraduate delivery of a Masters in Arts and Cultural Management in 1999
She has published several books including Art and Politics: Governments and the Arts in Australia: A Historical and Critical Analysis (Routledge 2024), Arts Leadership in Contemporary Contexts (Routledge Advances in Art and Visual Studies 2018), Arts and Cultural Leadership in Asia (Routledge Asian Studies 2015) and Arts Leadership: International Case Studies (Tilde University Press in 2013). She was Founder Editor of the Asia Pacific Journal of Arts and Cultural Management and is the author of many journal articles, conference papers and book chapters plus regular articles for The Conversation and other online newsletters such as ArtsHub and InDaily. She writes about arts leadership, cultural policy, cultural heritage, cultural tourism, arts funding, arts festivals, and other various topics connected with the arts.
She has undertaken extensive work as a consultant and lecturer in India, Vietnam, China, Norway, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia running workshops on different topics including cultural policy, strategic planning, arts leadership and new ways of income generation. She also gives guest lectures, presents at international conferences and writes commentary on arts matters.
Adam Page
is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, music educator and record producer based in Adelaide. Critically acclaimed for his solo multi-instrumental looping performances, Page has also carved his path internationally as a composer, writing major works for the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Wellington and the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, in which two concerts have been recorded and broadcast by ABC Classic FM. He has also conducted the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra on 2 occasions.
As a solo artist and side-man, Page has appeared at Glastonbury (UK), WOMADelaide, WOMAD NZ, The Big Day Out, The Edinburgh, Adelaide, Melbourne and Perth Fringe Festivals, The Sydney International Arts Festival, The Blue Mountains Music Festival, The Port Fairy Folk Festival and the Melbourne and Wellington International Jazz Festivals.
Page has performed with The Australian String Quartet, Tim Finn, Slava Grigoryan, The Grigoryan Brothers, Noel Gallagher, Katie Noonan, Riki Gooch, Jamie MacDowell and Tom Thum, Emma Pask, Ross Irwin, Ben Todd, The Shaolin Afronauts, Ross McHenry, The Adelaide Sax Pack, Darren Percival, Mal Webb, Lisa Tomlins and the late Dr. Chandrakant Sardeshmukh. He has also recorded with artists such as Tim Minchin, Electric Wire Hustle, Julien Dyne, Mark de Clive-Lowe, Oisima, and Dave Whitehead (recording various sounds for the third Hobbit film ‘The Battle of The Five Armies’). In 2025, he composed and performed the live score for the Australian Dance Theatre’s critically acclaimed Adelaide Festival of The Arts show, ‘A Quiet Languge’.
In 2016, Page co-founded Adelaide's 'Wizard Tone Studios' recording studio and runs a boutique record label ‘Wizard Tone Records’, releasing and supporting primarily South Australian based improvised music
He is currently a PHD candidate researching improvised techniques for looping pedals at The University of Adelaide’s Elder Conservatorium of Music.
Margo Hill-Smith AM is a Co-Director of Hill Smith Art Advisory and spearheaded the restructuring of the longstanding contemporary gallery into a unique Art Advisory Service in 2020, maintaining deep relationships within the Adelaide arts community.
Her focus on supporting artists' growth and promoting their profiles locally and nationally, underscores her commitment to the creative community. With a background in curation, artist relations, and operational management at Hill Smith Gallery, as well as roles in policy advocacy and community engagement with organisations like the Winemakers Federation of Australia and the Australian Hotels Association.
Margo has been a Board Member, Exhibition curator and major donor over 4 years to ILA (Immersive Light and Art) a unique social enterprise for arts and entertainment and hospitality. From 2026 she is also a business partner with the Founders to strengthen that commitment and partnership.
Her dedication to equality and social welfare, demonstrated through past work with the Equal Opportunity Commission and Family & Community Services, further enhances her capabilities.
An experienced leader with over four decades of diverse expertise across multiple industries, Margo is GLF alum and was elected by the GLF Alumni as a Director on the Leaders Institute Board in May 2024.
