The Public Exchange Bureau explores how academia can enhance public discourse on contemporary challenges. We employ innovative research methods to tackle social, environmental and cultural issues in the public sphere – with a focus on resilience, wellbeing, aesthetic innovation and diversity in south east Melbourne and Western Victoria.
Led by a team of researchers from the School of Communication and Creative Arts, our research spans across four research streams.
We examine curatorial practices in public art, including the commissioning of innovative temporary and permanent works, as well as consultancy on public art policies and commissioning protocols.
We investigate place-based storytelling, explore deep time through creative digital technologies and foster intercultural understanding between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.
Our research enhances communities' interactions with their environments through design for social good, focusing on experiences that foster connections between people and places.
Our work investigates improvised dance in a place-responsive context, fostering community cohesion, resilience, health, wellbeing and collaboration through performance practice.
Collaborate with our renowned researchers and stakeholders from government, industry, and the non-profit sector on impactful, socially engaged research.
The Public Exchange Bureau hosts a network of distinguished researchers from diverse creative disciplines, including art, photography, design, performance, film and creative writing.
Associate Professor Cameron Bishop is the Associate Professor in Art and Performance at Deakin University. As a curator, artist and writer working in the public realm he has been acknowledged for his community-focused approach to public art in the numerous grants, awards and commissions he has received.
Dr Katie Lee is a lecturer in creative arts and expanded performance in in the School of Communication and Creative Arts at Deakin University. Her research explores how meaning is constructed and becomes embedded within forms, habits and social constructs.
Maria Bates, Lecturer, Art and Design
Associate Professor Cameron Bishop, Associate Professor, Art and Design
Professor David Cross, Professor, Art and Design
Dr Simon Grennan, Lecturer, Art and Design
Dr Katie Lee, Lecturer, Art and Design
Dr Sean Loughrey, Lecturer, Art and Design
Dr Tonya Meyrick, Senior Lecturer, Art and Design
Dr Olivia Millard, Senior Lecturer, Film, Animation and Performing Arts
Associate Professor Antonia Pont, Associate Professor of Writing, Literature and Culture
Dr Martin Potter, Senior Lecturer, Film, Animation and Performing Arts
Dr Anne Wilson, Senior Lecturer, Art and Design
Our partnerships with government, community and industry allow us to deliver research with impact. We lead bold initiatives that seek solutions beyond traditional research and organisational boundaries.
The Front Beach, Back Beach was a temporary public art initiative located on the Mornington Peninsula. Featuring the work of 18 local and national artists, the project aimed to create new opportunities for community engagement through diverse artistic expressions.
The third installment of the ongoing Treatment art projects includes a mini festival showcasing innovative contemporary artworks at the Western Treatment Plant in Werribee. The project aims to engage the public with the often-overlooked aspects of wastewater management and its impact on the environment and community
We collaborate with community groups, art festivals, institutions, creative practitioners and venues both nationally and internationally. Our members actively engage in workshops, symposia, exhibitions and publications to share our research findings in various contexts.
Our team is here to connect with you and help you learn more about the Public Exchange Bureau.
