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Learning doesn’t stop just because school does—at our best, humans are endlessly curious and constantly learning. Arts and cultural events and festivals provide a gateway to an endless supply of exposure to new ideas for exploration which can provide benefits through all stages of life.
South Australia has the highest proportion of older people on mainland Australia and therefore, is uniquely positioned to lead the way nationally in enabling our citizens to age well. The government is committed to supporting South Australians to age well through the Office for Ageing Well which has set out South Australia’s Plan for Ageing Well 2020 – 2025. The Vision of the Plan includes that ‘South Australia is a healthy, connected, equitable and sustainable community, which takes a whole-of-life approach that fosters many years of living well…’.
Adelaide’s festivals provide an open and inclusive opportunity to celebrate diversity and encourage social inclusion within South Australia. Festivals provide a unique platform through which to reach and celebrate particular populations, from immigrants and indigenous groups, or particular age groups, such as children at the DreamBIG Festival and both younger and older demographics at the History Festival. Similarly, cultural festivals such as WOMADelaide and OzAsia were established with the goal of presenting a wider range of international artists from around the world to a festival audience, enhancing the cultural diversity of Adelaide’s festival offerings. These festivals can thus be used as a vehicle for cultural diplomacy, by building cross-cultural knowledge and understanding among South Australians.
In this way, our state’s festivals may also help to build social cohesion within South Australia by adding to the state’s stock of ‘social capital’, or the social links which exist between otherwise unrelated groups and individuals within a community. The festivals help to build this capital, by welcoming diverse groups into public spaces together. Feast Festival, for example, brings together members of the LGBTIQA+ community and allies at its events throughout November.
