A salon isn’t the kind of event usually held at a university… so why have we chosen this format for some of our Collaborative Cultures work?
We are primarily drawing on the 17th and 18th century tradition of people gathering to converse about intellectual, political, social or literary issues, beginning in France and spreading to other European and Middle Eastern countries. Similar traditions of conversational gatherings and knowledge exchange exist around the world, including closer to us here at the ANU, in Indigenous Australia and in Asia and the Pacific.
The word salon is derived from the Italian word sala, which means room or parlour. Salons were often hosted by women in their homes. Salons mediated a space between the public and private spheres, fostered intellectual connection and the exchange of ideas, and became an important source of political ideas and revolutionary sentiment.
In our salons, we want to emphasise the notion of an informal gathering, where ideas are exchanged and generated, and where creativity is valued. Everyone is welcome, from experienced collaborators to the ‘collaboration curious’. The concept of hospitality is important and we hope participants will be nourished – physically, intellectually and creatively – and find the experience inspiring and fulfilling.