This week, we caught up with Dr Claire Manning, founder of Magnolia Learning. Claire is a Canberra Innovation Network co-working Alumni who has her own creative practice and over the last couple of decades has used her research and a social enterprise focus to inform her Magnolia Learning work. Claire promotes the benefits of working with artists (especially women) and arts-based learning in the development of many skills including communication, innovation, teamwork and creative thinking.
Tell us about what you are working on.
Claire Manning and Magnolia Learning presents the
Taxing Times Project – September 2025 – Re-imagining Tax as a Collective Act of Care
The 2025 Federal Election is now behind us, but the echoes of a familiar and troubling narrative still linger: “Tax is a problem.” “Tax is bad.” “Let’s cut taxes.” These phrases dominated the public conversation despite being misleading and potentially harmful.
With the valuable support of Manning Clark House, Canberra, I have designed a project that creates a welcoming community space to celebrate and change the way we talk about taxation. This will be done with the arts and thoughtful conversations, through interactive flower installation, talks by artists and taxation experts, and a community photographic exhibition.
It is time to imagine and build a future where paying tax is recognised not just as a duty, but as a privilege and a meaningful contribution to the world we want to create together.
Why is innovation important to you?
Magnolia Learning combines my passion for both the arts and learning. I work hard to combine the two whenever I can to assist all the different projects I have worked on over the last 3 decades. For me all the creative arts (visual, music, poetry, photography multimedia etc etc etc) equal innovation, experimentation, curiosity, taking risks, making mistakes and trying again. Whether we acknowledge it or not the arts play an innovative role in all our lives, every day.
The arts can also create value for ideas, objects and thoughts that previously had no value. The creative arts make us feel uncomfortable some days and comfortable at other times and that is what makes me such an advocate for the arts and artists. For me the arts represents innovation in multiple ways.
What drives you to make a difference?
There are times that I am disheartened by the continual devaluation of the arts and the artistic and cultural pursuits of everyone. Yes, for me everyone is an artist. Artists are not lazy. Sure, there are artists who have their privilege supporting their practice however most artists continue their creative pursuits with no or limited financial reward because they simply have to! They are driven, the opposite to lazy.
Artists are small business owners, they are health practitioners, they are researchers, they are care givers, some are even company executives and public servants and so much more. They are our neighbours, our work colleagues, our friends and family. They are the people we admire the most. They are also the people who can ask the hard questions in creative ways or perhaps make you ask yourself tough questions.
To help me through the hard days I live by the following quote from Nolan (1996) that formed the basis of my thesis many years ago:
“The arts can change fixed ideas and help find new ways of seeing, hearing, thinking and feeling. The arts help us move into a different space where different rules apply: the rules of rhythm, colour, line, form, movement, melody and harmony. Through these new experiences, we learn about ourselves and others to develop different ways of interacting with our workplaces, communities, and society.”
What are your goals for 2025 and beyond?
To continue to use the arts to inspire challenging conversations in all areas of my work and my personal world. Arts and Culture need to be valued more in all aspects of life. I have a dream that one day poets and artists will be employed, and paid well, to share their creative expertise in every Australian Government Department – Federal, State, Territory and Local Government. I can see pop up and pop-in studios with artists, writers and musicians and many creative residencies in workplaces where people, who were told they “could not draw” at school, will enter and get an opportunity to find their creative calling and apply what they discover to their everyday work. I can guarantee our world would be a better place.
Do you have any advice for getting more women into innovation and entrepreneurship?
My 5 top tips:
• If you are in Canberra, you are in the right place! I moved here almost 8 years ago, and I have been welcomed and encouraged throughout that time in so many ways. Not all my ideas have worked however through support and great networks it hasn’t stopped me trying to share and try my ideas and encourage innovation.
• Another great asset here in the nation’s capital is Canberra Innovation Network. I was welcomed by the amazing team in my early days and many times when I have started a new project I have found support from the many connections CBRIN has provided. Plus those welcoming smiles, always, when you walk out of the lifts, fill me with confidence. Speaking of lifts if you ever meet me please feel free to ask me about the time that I FAILED with my ‘elevator pitch’ at the lifts at CBRIN with a CEO from the creative industries. Oh well.
• Introduce people to people strategically. I have helped people connect and people have helped me connect. If you know what people are good at and know what people need, take a moment to assist with connections and then walk away.
• Recognise that Canberra is also a place of privilege. Know when to speak up, when to speak less and when to shut up. Take a step back and let those with less privilege go first.
• Share your success stories by starting with your failures. It is great to hear when things go well however we learn so much more when things go wrong.
What are you proud of right now? Any recent wins to share?
Have I mentioned my Taxing Times Project at Manning Clark House, Forrest in September?
Yes I have! Here are a few details.
Taxing Times – September 2025 – Manning Clark House – Event Summary
• Flower Making Workshop – Sunday 24 August – 10 to 1
• Taxing Time Interactive Exhibition-Saturdays in September – 11 to 2
• Expert Taxing Time Talks – Wednesday nights in September – 6 to 8
• Sundays in September – Two Taxing Time Fundraising Events for
Manning Clark House:
o Sunday 21 September – Trivia Lunch donation
o Sunday 28 September – Morning Tea
Curious to find out more? Please contact me at claire@magnolialearning.com.au
More information about Manning Clark House is available at https://www.manningclark.org.au/
Thank you Claire for sharing your journey, learnings and wins! Meet Claire and connect with other female founders, entrepreneurs and innovators at our next Female Founders!
