News & MediaTNA STUFF
TNA Indie Survey on Working Trends and Fee Benchmarking (Paid)
We want independent artists and creatives in the performing arts to fill out a survey about working trends and fees. This edition will build on longitudinal data collected in 2018, 2020 and 2022. It will help TNA’s ongoing advocacy and helps indies with fee benchmarking. It will be available as a public report in the coming months for everyone to use. The first 250 respondents receive $50 to participate. We expect the survey to take 30–45min to complete. If you have access requirements, contact yuhui@tna.org.au or (03) 9947 1015. We can do it together on the phone or via an online meeting. A word document version is also available as an alternative format.
20 July – NT Sector Gathering at Darwin Fringe
We are holding a performing arts gathering at Darwin Fringe. Open to all arts workers and artists. Registrations are free.
28 July – Directors in Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) International Exchange EOIs
TNA is the Australian national centre for ASSITEJ. We will be selecting one director to attend the International Directors’ Seminar in Germany in 2025 through an EOI process. The program is open to directors working in the field of Theatre for Young Audiences in all forms of performing arts. The theme for 2025 is ‘Reassembling the world: Intergenerational and international alliances in TYA’.
1 October – TNA Northern Rivers Dance & Physical Theatre Gathering
Save the date! TNA and Arts Northern Rivers (ANR) are hosting a gathering. It is for the Dance & Physical Theatre sector in the NSW Northern Rivers region. 1 October, 1:30pm – 4:00pm, Drill Hall Theatre, Mullumbimby.
July Behind the Scenes Podcast with Liv Satchell
Liv Satchell is a writer, director, and co-artistic director of The Voice In My Hands. She chats about her approach to creating work and supporting emerging theatre-makers to take risks. Listen to the interview.
NATIONAL STUFF
Tax Time! Tips for Indies in the Performing Arts
The Australian Tax Office has put together a comprehensive guide for individuals in the performing arts. TNA has outlined some of their tips, including the sorts of things that count as a tax-deductible expense.
5 July – Pride Foundation Australia Large Grants 2024
Grants of up to $10,000 are available for organisations. Projects should aim to support queer people living regionally or rurally.
7–15 July – NAIDOC Week
To celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. There are conversations, exhibitions and workshops happening in your local area.
9 July – Creative Australia Arts and Disability Initiative
$30,000 grant for a d/Deaf artist or arts worker, or an artist or arts worker with disability. The grant can be used to support projects that extend arts practice, networks, skills, and ambition.
9 July – Creative Australia National Arts and Disability Awards
Nominations are open to celebrate the work and achievements of d/Deaf artists and artists with disability. An established artist receives $50,000, an emerging artist receives $20,000.
10 July – Create NSW Artform Boards EOIs (NSW)
Seeking NSW arts and cultural practitioners to join as peer assessors. As Board members, they will support the NSW Minister for the Arts to make good funding decisions.
11 July – Critical Path ‘First Nations Choreography’ Panel
Free online panel on post-colonial process, protocols and diasporic expression. Speakers are: Jasmin Sheppard, Lara Kramer, Bianca Natahia Hyslop, and Vicki Van Hout.
12 July & 19 July – Arts Access Victoria’s Fridays at the Collective (VIC and online)
Celebrating 50 years of Arts Access Victoria (AAV). In July, every Friday afternoon there will be series of discussions and events. They will focus on the past, present, and future of arts and disability. The first panel discussion features past AAV leaders on 12 July. The Gathering, the monthly catch-up for Deaf and Disabled artists, will take place as part of the Collective on 19 July.
14 July – Helpmann Academy Elevate Mentorships (SA)
Matches final year students and graduates from SA universities with established professionals. Up to $3,000 funding available to pay the mentor and for the mentee to cover any costs.
22 July – Country Arts SA Grindell’s Hut Residency
Three-week residency in Gammon Ranges National Park in SA. Open to artists from any discipline. Residents are also provided with $3,000 for their artist fee, and $1,050 for travel support.
24 July – Adelaide Fringe 2025 Venue Registrations
The open access festival is accepting venue registrations for 2025. Anyone can register for free to become a Fringe Venue.
25 July – Accessible Arts ‘The Future of Disability Storytelling’ Panel
A panel discussion on the possibilities of disability storytelling. It features Dan Daw, Michelle Cheng, and Fiona Murphy. Free, in-person and online.
28 July – Canon Oceania Community Grants
For any project or organisation that has a positive impact on communities, culture or society. Recipients receive $2,500, and a Canon product worth up to $2,500.
31 July – The Performing Lines TAS Regional Artist Residency EOIs (TAS)
A 3-day subsidised residency. For artists to test ideas, consider collaborations and possibilities across art forms. Mentorship, accommodation, travel and meals provided.
31 July – Board Observership Program 2025 (NSW, VIC, QLD)
Each Observer is paired with an organisation. They attend their board meetings for 12 months. Participants must be ages 25–40 and committed to values-based leadership.
1 August – The Blue Room Theatre 2025 Season Applications
Present at the Annual Season, or as part of Blue Room’s festival Summer Nights. Both seasons receive 65-80% of box office takings. The Annual Season also receives seed funding.
6 August – Creative Australia Peer Assessor EOIs
Join Creative Australia’s pool of peer assessors for a three-year term. Peer assessors make funding recommendations, assess grants, and provide expertise. This is a paid opportunity. Access support provided.
6 August – Creative Australia Creative Futures Fund EOIs
$50,000– $250,000 to support the creation and testing of new ideas and works. $250,000– $1.5 million for works in their final stages of development, ready for presentation. Investments will be negotiated with successful recipients.
6 August – Helsinki International Artist Programme
Three-month residency offering time, space and $12,500. It is for open-ended research and experimentation. Open to artists from various disciplines.
8 August–21 August – APAX
View the Arts Market program. Roundtables, pitches, and showcases have been announced. Early bird registrations close 19 July.
8 August – 4 + 4 Multi-Year Funding (NSW)
Multi-year funding of $400,000–$6 million per year for arts orgs in NSW. They must demonstrate long-term artistic and cultural leadership. Successful applicants will be expected to deliver on priorities. These include First Nations stories, Western Sydney and/or regional NSW, inclusive communities, and more.
25 August – Sidney Myer and Ian Potter Trust Creative Fellowships Nominations
Grants of $200,000 over two years awarded to individual Australian artists, creatives and cultural leaders. The criteria are ‘outstanding talent’ and ‘exceptional courage’. Applicants cannot self-nominate.
DFAT Australia Pavilion Expo 2025 Osaka EOIs
The Department of Foreign Affairs seeks EOIs from individuals and organisations interested in participating in the Australia Pavilion cultural program at Expo 2025 Osaka. The cultural program will feature Australian creative activities and performances. Conducted in and around the Australian pavilion for the Japanese public.
Creative Australia Think Digital
A self-assessment tool for arts orgs. It gives an overview on digital capabilities, and supports the development of a digital strategy.
VICTORIAN STUFF
6 July–3 August – Stage A Change X Motley Bauhaus: Learning Labs
Equity, access and inclusion workshops for arts workers. Workshop topics include: ‘Access, Belonging, Inclusion, Diversity, Equity’, ‘Building an Inclusive Arts Practice’, ‘Defining and Addressing Microaggressions’, and ‘Championing Anti-Racism in the Arts’. $177 per workshop, or $75 if you’re unwaged.
7 July – Sundays with Wit ‘Operating Theatre 101 with Jarman Oakley’
Workshop on tech-ing a show. Equips participants to operate and communicate about lighting and sound. At Bluestone Church Arts Space. Pay what you can.
8–12 July – La Mama Free Professional Development Series
In-person and livestreamed sessions for independent theatre practitioners. From the art of stage and production management, to how to write a good media release. Speakers include Rachel Maza, Danny Delahunty, Bernadette Fam, Laura Milke Garner, and TNA’s Erica McCalman.
12 July – Melbourne Theatre Company’s Cybec Electric
For Victorian writers who have an unproduced play. The play will benefit from a short development and showcase at a public reading. Successful applicants receive $2,600, dramaturgical support and more.
15 July – Back to Back Theatre Ensemble Auditions
Back to Back Theatre is running an open audition in Geelong. For intellectually disabled artists interested in joining their core Ensemble.
15 July – Alter State Program Launch
The Disability-led arts initiative returns in October. The launch offers a preview of the 2024 program.
15–16 July – Music Theatre Futures Conference
The first conference for music theatre in Australia hosted by VCA. Carmel Dean is the keynote speaker. Presentations, panels and workshops will cover topics like Australia’s place in the international landscape, and the creative potential of conscious casting. Tickets are $40 for the two days. Financial assistance is available for BIPOC.
1 August – Creative Vic’s Touring Victoria Grants
Funding of $10,000–$150,000 for productions and performances to tour to regional and outer-metropolitan Victoria. There are three streams: general, First Peoples, and Deaf and Disabled.
1 August – Arts House Makeshift Workshop: ‘Access & Ethics Rider’ Applications
In person and online workshop for disabled and/or BIPOC artists. Learn how to craft a rider that expresses your access accommodations and ethics. You will need to apply to participate. Participants are supported with a $100 honorarium. Those joining in person are provided lunch and $100 local travel support.
Melbourne Cabaret Festival Ongoing EOIs
The festival has changed its model to be a series of showcases, sometimes aligned with other festivals. This will be a shift away from the single annual two-week event. Submissions are now open for ongoing EOIs to present with MCF.
Darebin’s FUSE@LARGE Registrations
The City of Darebin’s multi-arts festival in spring. Registrations are open access for artists to test and try out new ideas. Registration is free. Events need to be artist-led or put community, artists and creatives at their centre.
ASSITEJ STUFF – Youth Arts & Young Audiences
14 July – Carclew Fellowships 2025
Up to $10,000 for artists and art workers aged 26 years or under. The grant can go towards research, mentoring, arts career building, and skills development.
23 July – Paul Ramsay Foundation (PRF) Experimental Evaluation Grants EOIs
Up to $300,000 for organisations to fund evaluations of social impact programs. They must align with PRF’s purpose. This includes children and young people having positive life paths free from entrenched poverty and harm.
10 August – International Theatre Festival for Children and Youth JĖGA/COOL! 2025
Inviting performing arts companies to present in the festival in Lithuania. The festival is on 13–18 May 2025.
CIRCUS AND PHYSICAL THEATRE (CAPT) STUFF
15 July – Cirque du Soliel NexGen Workshop
A training opportunity with an expert coach in Teeterboard, Trampwall and Hoop Diving. Participants are selected via an application process.
26–29 September – Melbourne Juggling Convention
Workshops and networking for jugglers. Tiered registration starting from $40. The Early Bird 4-day pass costs $140. The workshop schedule will be announced soon.
Flying Fruit Fly Circus Open Training (VIC)
Applications are welcome for Open Training. This provides a safe training space in Wodonga for students, staff, graduates and other circus professionals.
INDUSTRY GOSS
- Collette Brennan has stepped down as CEO and Artistic Director at Abbotsford Convent. She has been appointed CEO of National Trust of Australia (Victoria) (NTAV).
- Rachel Healy has been appointed the new CEO at Queensland Performing Arts Centre.
- Lauren Brunswick has been appointed Programs Manager at the Chamber of Arts and Culture WA.
- Deborah Prentice has been appointed the new Managing Director of Ausdance VIC.
- NIDA has announced the appointment of its first Equity and Inclusion Manager, Dr Alexia Derbas.
- Sydney dance company DirtyFeet has appointed Sarah-Vyne Vassallo to the newly created role of Director of Artistic Operations and Inclusive Practices.
- Rhys Holden has been appointed the new CEO and Creative Director of Geelong Arts Centre.
- Vanessa Pigrum has been appointed the new CEO of the Theatre Royal.
- At Western Edge, Reis Low has been appointed the Business and Operations Manager, and Aïsha Trambas has been appointed the Program Manager.
- Corrugated Iron Youth Arts has announced the addition of two new team members: Benhur Helwend as Creative Producer (Programs), and Courtney Green as Marketing and Engagement Coordinator.
- Amy Firth is Regional Arts Australia’s new Communications Coordinator.
- Asia-Pacific Triennial of Performing Arts (Asia TOPA) in Melbourne has announced the appointment of Carmen Lai as Program Coordinator and Nisha Madhan as Creative Producer.
- Bernadette Fam is finishing up as New Work Manager at Malthouse. She will return to independent practice as a dramaturg, director and new work developer.
POSITIONS VACANT
Board Chair, Women’s Circus (VIC). Apply by 5 July.
Administration & Communications Coordinator, Blakdance (QLD). Apply by 7 July.
Producer, Programming, Arts Centre Melbourne (VIC). Apply by 8 July.
Creative Producer, Programming, Arts Centre Melbourne (VIC). Apply by 8 July.
Office and Project Manager, Restless Dance Theatre (SA). Apply by 8 July.
Director, First Nations Investment and Development, Creative Australia (NSW). Apply by 10 July.
Project Officer, Creative Workplaces, Creative Australia (VIC). Apply by 11 July.
Marketing Manager, YIRRAMBOI, City of Melbourne (VIC). Apply by 14 July.
Board Observer (Voluntary), JUTE Theatre Company (QLD). Apply by 15 July.
Emerging Theatre Practitioners, Queensland Theatre (QLD). EOIs close 21 July.
Project Manager, Stages of Empathy, Rebus Theatre (ACT). Apply by 21 July.
Director, Philanthropy and Partnerships, Sydney Dance Company (NSW). Apply by 24 July.
Aerial and Acrobatic Trainers (multiple roles), Flying Fruit Fly Circus (VIC). Apply by 26 July.