Professor Garry Stewart, inaugural Director of Assemblage Centre for Creative Arts, is leaving Flinders University for Europe. Having also stepped down from his long-term role as Artistic Director of Australian Dance Theatre, he is keen to develop new creative work and take up new opportunities around the world.
Professor Stewart has helped form Assemblage as a rich, vibrant centre which promotes and builds the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences’ esteemed arts research and praxis. Working with Deputy Director Dr Tully Barnett, Dean (Research) Professor Penny Edmonds and the Assemblage management committee, many ambitious collaborations have been created across a vast range of disciplines, providing great support to unique and unexpected creative arts practices and research.
“Garry’s vision, creative energy, and leadership has been absolutely foundational to the establishment of Assemblage,” says Professor Peter Monteath, Vice-President and Executive Dean of the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences. “He has been a generous colleague and important contributor to the creative and intellectual life of the College.”
Highlights under Professor Stewart’s leadership have included Assemblage’s Artist in Residence program, the establishment of a stellar External Advisory Panel for Assemblage, the Arts in Health Alliance with the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, new partnerships with FIKA Productions and with the Graham F. Smith Peace Foundation.
This year also saw the launch of Assemblage’s #Interlocutor series, featuring speakers who are all significant names in the arts and cultural sector in conversation with academics from the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.
Professor Stewart will continue his affiliation with Flinders University as an adjunct Professor, remaining a champion of Assemblage, and will be back later in 2022 to assist with new ventures, including the #Interlocutor series and continuing his work on projects including Dance and Robotics and arts in health.