Arts
Asialink Arts elevates the agency and capability of the Australian arts sector to engage with Asia through sharing insights, creating connections, and building capability.
We work as a cultural enabler, capacity builder, and conduit to the Indo-Pacific region for Australian artists and institutions. Asialink Arts collaborates across the Asialink Group, accessing skills and knowledge that spans diplomacy, business, and education.
Over the past year Asialink Arts has critically examined its impact, and refocused ambition and capacity to meet the demands of a rapidly changing region and diverse arts sector.
Asialink Arts’ new facilitation model is responsive and agile, shepherding introductions, growing connections, fostering institutional partnerships, connecting artists and arts institutions to opportunities, and creating platforms for exchange.
Our new strategies include a shift from outbound residencies towards mutual exchange and partnerships based on reciprocity. We also proactively analyse barriers to engagement, and convene forums that bring cross-sectoral stakeholders together to identify practical, cooperative action to create new opportunities. Through our arts based diplomacy, thought leadership and advocacy work we are committed to measurably enhancing the agency of Australian artists and institutions to achieve their respective priorities for engagement with the Asia-Pacific.
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
- Amplify artistic perspectives in cross-sector dialogues and initiatives.
- Influence policy and public discourse on issues of importance in the region.
- Cultivate nuanced public understanding of challenges across the region.
PARTNERSHIPS AND EXCHANGE
- Catalyse and support creative and long-lasting institution-to-institution and people-to-people collaborations and partnerships.
- Emphasise mutual exchange, relationship development, capacity building, and innovation.
CAPABILITY DEVELOPMENT
- Expand access to audiences and markets for Australian and Asian artistic endeavours.
- Build the capability of Australian artists and creative industries to capitalise on business development opportunities in the region.

Sponsors & Partners
University of Melbourne, through Asialink, is assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its funding and advisory body.
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Australian creative excellence front stage in China
Asialink Arts presented two exceptional Australian companies at the forefront of creating immersive visitor experiences and creative environments at Boao Culture and Creativity Week in China.
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sonicbridge - Australia and China contemporary music connections
A partnership between Monash University and Asialink Arts with leading industry experts in Australia and China, sonicbridge creates connections between Indigenous Australian contemporary musicians and Chinese musicians through dialogue and exchange of ideas.
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Public Displays of Affection Victorian Roundtables
The Victorian roundtables explore in greater depth the ‘development horizons’ in the Public Displays of Affection (PDA) Conference Report.
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An Asialink Delegation to India
"We want to be able to create a bridge between Australia and India.. it's about creating something that goes both ways."
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Public Displays of Affection: How Can Artists Rebrand Soft Power?
For Asia TOPA, Asialink Arts presented Public Displays of Affection—a cross-sectoral conference exploring the fundamental nature of ‘soft power’ agendas and the status of cultural diplomacy, creative exchange and artistic influence across the Asia Pacific.
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Hosting International Artist Residencies in Greater Melbourne
An Initiative of the Committee for Melbourne, Asialink Arts and Res Artis.
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Sally Smart’s Manifesto in Bali
Julia Winterflood describes Asialink Arts alumna and Vice Chancellor’s Fellow Sally Smart’s new solo exhibition Manifesto in Ubud, Bali. The inter-disciplinary exhibition and performance is the product of transnational connections developed from 15 years of working with Indonesian artists.
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Victoria-Jiangsu Sister-State Artist Exchange
An initiative of the Premier of Victoria, the Victoria-Jiangsu Sister-State Artist Exchange marked the 40-year anniversary of a prosperous Sister-State relationship.
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Exchanges
Learn more about the Asialink Arts exchange program. Arts
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Creative Exchanges 2019
Asialink Arts Creative Exchanges for 2019 Announced
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5 Questions with
A snapshot into the creative practice of the artists and arts professionals involved in Asialink Arts 2018 GPS programs.
On the ground and in the know
Keep up to date with the latest news and content through our social media
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most of our events in 2020 are running online.
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Global Collaborator Exchanges
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Asialink Global Collaborators are a diverse group of arts organisations throughout the Asian region that partner with the Exchange Program. -
Victoria - Jiangsu Sister-State Artist Exchange (VIC applicants only)
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A Victorian artist will be invited to apply for a short turn around opportunity to travel to Jiangsu Province on a fully funded six-week residency from September 1 to mid-October 2019.
To view past Asialink Arts exhibitions and projects please click on the country image below. Asialink Arts exhibitions and projects have been generously funded by our many program supporters.