News & MediaTNA STUFF
9 Oct – Canberra Industry Gathering
In partnership with Canberra Theatre Centre, we’re hosting a relaxed industry gathering. This is a chance for us to catch up with the performing arts sector in Canberra. Our Co-CEO Josh will provide an update on the state of the national live performance landscape.
16 Oct – Sydney Dance Sector Gathering
We’re co-hosting an in-person Sydney Dance Sector Gathering with Dance Makers Collective and GUTS Dance. Together, we will prioritise recommendations and actions from our Independent Dance Sector Report. Register by 13 Oct.
24 Oct – Indie Report Speed Briefing
THIS IS HOW WE DO IT reports on the working trends and fees of independent artists in the performing arts in Australia. Our recent survey received 273 valid responses. We are excited to share our top findings at a speed briefing. 24 October, Thursday, 12.30–1pm AEDT on Zoom. We’ll release the full report immediately following the event. If you require Auslan interpretation or have any access requirements, please let us know by Thursday 17 Oct. Register here.
Listen to Vision Australia’s ‘Behind the Scenes’
We have two TNA Members of the Month! Joshua Pether chats about ‘Phases’ as part of Alter State. Clair Korobacz from one step at a time like this demystifies the process behind creating ‘Transmission – into the dark’, presented by Substation and Melbourne Fringe.
NATIONAL STUFF
Service and Creative Skills Australia Workforce Planning Report for the Arts
The report identifies some of the challenges the arts sector faces. This includes staff recruitment in technical and production roles. It offers proposed ways forward.
2 Oct–13 Oct – Alter State Festival (Melbourne and Online)
The disability-led festival is happening this month. Many events are free. It includes a two-day symposium, and the Gathering, the monthly forum by Arts Access Victoria for Deaf and Disabled artists. The Manifesto, a performance piece, will use responses gathered during Alter State.
7 Oct – Playlab Theatre Incubator 2025 (QLD)
Creative development and mentorship for emerging Meanjin playwrights, fully funded by Playlab. Participants will write two full drafts of an original play. It will end with a public staged reading.
7 Oct – Minderoo Artist Fund 2025 EOIs (WA)
Funding for mid-career artists in Western Australia. $35,000 project grants, two-month-long residencies valued at up to $20,000, and a $50,000 non-outcome prize.
8 Oct – The Compelling Employment Offer Webinar
PAC Australia and the Advisory Board for the Arts recently conducted the Compelling Employment Offer study. It explores the key factors in attracting and retaining staff in the performing arts. The webinar will look at findings in greater detail.
8 Oct – Festivals Australia Funding
For projects that encourage community participation in a festival or celebration. For people living in regional and remote areas. Regional artists, arts workers, and organisations can apply.
10 Oct – Arts on Tour’s Tour Lab (Sydney and Online)
Full-day workshop and networking. For independent artists, producers, and companies who are new to touring. $15 per session, or $45 for the whole day.
11 Oct – Chamber Made’s Deep Dive Mentorship 2025 EOIs
Paid mentorship for an emerging artist, with established artist Roslyn Oades. This can be in person in North Melbourne or online. The mentee will receive $1,000.
12 Oct – Brand X Voice and Vibration Workshop with Fran Middleton (Sydney)
3-hour voice workshop for performers. Includes vocalising exercises, physical play, mental visualisation, and more. Cost: $25.
14 Oct – Lucy Guerin Inc Moving Forward Residency 2025 EOIs
For dance artists to develop projects that are near completion. Provides up to three-week residency in WXYZ Studios in Melbourne, and $1,000 stipend per week.
21 Oct – Opera Australia Young Artist Program
An 18-month, full-time training program for six artists. It is intensive and based at The Opera Centre in Sydney and overseas. Participants live in Sydney. There is a moving allowance and a full-time salary.
23 Oct – Arts House Culture Lab and Warehouse Residency EOIs
Culture Lab supports independent artists, collectives, and small-medium organisations to create new work. Up to $20,000 provided. Warehouse Residency supports Deaf and Disability led projects. Up to $47,000 provided, with professional development opportunities during the residency.
23 Oct – Foundation SA Neighbourhood Grants (SA)
Supporting orgs with up to $5,000 for acts of community connection, led by people in their own communities.
25 Oct – The Australian Multicultural Foundation Carla Zampatti Scholarship for Young Women
This $10,000 scholarship is open to women aged 18–29 who belong to new and emerging communities in Australia. A new and emerging community is defined as newly arrived, without support systems, and with limited means to access mainstream services. The scholarship supports a project that helps achieve a goal, where there may be barriers.
25 Oct – Detour Interconnected Dance Fellowship 2025
Opportunity by Tasdance, Dance Makers Collective, STRUT Dance, Dancenorth, Tracks, and GUTS. These orgs will co-host two Australian dance artists for creative development. There is no prescribed outcome. Artists receive 12 weeks of pay at $1,300 per week, per diems, and travel expenses.
25 Oct – Council on Australia Latin America Relations Grants
Up to $50,000 for one-year or multi-year projects or activities which advance Australia’s engagement with Latin America. This can include exchanges and partnerships in priority areas. Priority areas include gender equality, education, research, commercial ties, and First Nations engagement.
28 Oct – Canberra Theatre Centre New Works 2025 EOIs (ACT)
Two opportunities for performance makers in ACT. $10,000 for the creative development of original live performance works. Five-day lab to explore new ideas through collaboration and mentorship. Participants are paid $1,250 for their time.
28 Oct – National Science Week Grants 2025
Up to $20,000 for activities and events that increase Australian community engagement with the sciences. National Science Week to be held from 9–17 August 2025.
31 Oct – City of Gold Coast Arts Partnerships (Gold Coast)
Grants of up to $80,000 for Gold Coast arts groups and orgs. To develop sustainability, entrepreneurship, artistic excellence, and cultural leadership. There is also a rolling grant for arts project funding.
4 Nov – Centre for Australia-India Relations Maitri Grants 2024-25
Supports projects that promote cultural connections and exchange between Australia and India. Supports orgs with up to $50,000 to $2m in funding.
6 Nov – 2025 ANAT Synapse Residency
Open to artists whose work engages with science and/or technology. Research organisations host artists to undertake a period of creative research and practice. ANAT provides an artist fee of $4,400 per month and up to $3,500 towards the project.
12 Nov – Queensland Government 2024–25 Empowering Multicultural Community Projects
Grants of up to $100,000 for innovative projects that build resilient communities. Projects should create opportunities for people from diverse backgrounds and address barriers.
12 Nov – Arts Business: First Nations Development Fund
Grants of $10,000 to $50,000 to fund sustainable business practices and economic growth. For First Nations individuals and micro-organisations in art and creative business.
14 Nov – Council for Australian-Arab Relations Grant Round 2024-25
Grants of $20,000 to $60,000 for projects that boost Australia-Arab engagement. Projects should advance shared interests between Australia and Arab communities in the Middle East and North Africa.
18 Nov – Pride Foundation Small Grants
$1,000 for projects that help the LGBTQIA+ community, directly or indirectly.
PLATEA 2025 Festival (Chile)
The international platform takes place Jan 14–19, 2025. The festival promotes exchange between artists in performing arts from Latin America and the rest of the world. Registrations to participate are open.
Accessible Arts Workshops (Online)
There are new and updated workshops in October and November. Topics include: creative access, access riders for orgs and artists, and accessible festivals and events. $105 per person.
VICTORIAN STUFF
11–12 Oct – Force Majeure’s INCITE Masterclass
2-day introductory course for performance artists, exploring Force Majeure’s devising process. Focuses on how to generate movement and text as a performer, director, or collaborator. Cost: $185.
12 Oct & 26 Oct – Western Edge Open Page Free Workshops
Free workshops on poetry, scene writing and storytelling. For people aged 18–30 who live and work in Melbourne’s West.
18 Oct – Bluestone Church Arts Space Residency EOIs
There are two residencies on offer. Up to two weeks residency and $1,000 stipend for creative development. Or up to three weeks and $5,000 stipend to present a production to an audience.
19 Oct – Melbourne Theatre Company Cybec Electric Events
2-hour workshops on ‘How to write a play – for emerging BIPOC writers’ and on ‘How to write a musical’. Tiered prices for the workshops, with concessions starting at $25. There is also a free networking event.
21 Oct – The University of Melbourne’s Community Fellows Program 2025
Supports research collaborations between community organisations and university-based researchers. Two fellowships are funded by the Melbourne Disability Institute, for projects that have a disability lens. $7,000 are provided to orgs for the Fellows’ time.
23 Oct – Regional Arts Victoria Small Regional Presenters Fund
Up to $15,000 to develop long term plans and audience development strategies. Open to emerging small regional presenters with limited experience.
25 Oct – Creative Victoria Multicultural Festivals and Events Program
Grants of up to $50,000 to support multicultural festivals and events.
27 Oct – Science Gallery Open Call EMERGENCE(Y) 2026
Invites proposals on projects that can operate in a non-traditional gallery environment. Looking for projects that respond to the climate crisis, First Nations knowledge, species survival, place/habitat, and more. Open to performances and one-off events.
28 Oct – Lesley Hall Arts and Disability Scholarship
$5,000 scholarship for a Deaf or Disabled artist, arts worker or creative living in Victoria. Applicants must show past works that challenge assumptions about disability.
28 Oct – La Mama Scratch Night December
For performance makers to share and test new ideas with a supportive audience. Performances have to be 10 minutes max.
5 Nov – La Mama Residencies 2025 EOIs
In 2025, La Mama will pause their regular programming. During this period, they’re offering two-week residencies for independent artists and collectives. Artists will be provided space to progress work, develop ideas and play.
ASSITEJ STUFF (Youth Arts & Young Audiences)
22 Oct–10 Dec – PYT Fairfield Junior Ensemble 2024
Free eight-week course for high school students on stage acting and performance. Participants will learn about proper vocal technique, movement, characterisation, and more.
4 Nov – Brainstorm Productions Auditions 2025 Season (NSW, QLD, VIC)
The touring educational theatre company is auditioning for their 2025 season.
12 Nov – Queensland Government 2024–25 Multicultural Youth & Community Connection Grants
Up to $100,000 for projects that help remove barriers. To help young people from diverse backgrounds engage with their community.
12 Nov – Creative Australia Young People: First Nations Arts & Culture Project Fund
$10,000 to $20,000 grants for Australian First Nations artists or arts workers aged 18–35. Funding supports creative practice and career development, nationally and internationally.
15 Nov – The Tasmanian Community Fund EOIs
Supports orgs with projects that help 8-19-year-olds stay connected to learning. Funding from $100,000 to $1m.
Tutti Arts’ Free Resource for Youth Arts Sector
Tutti Pom Pom is a resource developed by Tutti Arts and Carclew. The resource supports arts organisations and arts workers who facilitate programs with young people who are neurodivergent or learning disabled.
CAPT STUFF (CIRCUS AND PHYSICAL THEATRE)
20 Oct – Vulcana Circus Open House EOIs (QLD)
For artists aged 20 and under to perform on stage. Individuals and groups can present works to a friendly audience in a professional environment. The performance will take place on 9 Nov.
1 Nov – Australian Partner Acrobatics Convention (APAC) 2025 Scholarship
The scholarship covers a full pass to the training convention, meals, and a dorm bed. For a community leader to keep training and connecting. APAC is on 10–15 Jan 2025, in Camp Coorimungle VIC.
1 Dec – Spinfest 2025 Scholarship
The scholarship covers a full pass to Spinfest, meals, and a dorm bed/camping pass. For a community leader, a youth in circus, or someone facing difficulty. Spinfest is on 11–15 Jan 2025, in Camp Coorimungle VIC.
Creative Australia Scan of the Circus and Physical Theatre Sector in Victoria
Creative Australia has released a report. It looks at the gaps, needs, and opportunities of CaPT in Victoria.
TNA IS READING, WATCHING, LISTENING & LEARNING
This month, we’re sharing resources that speak to an economics of thriving.
- Read: The Blackfoot Wisdom that Inspired Maslow’s Hierarchy, by Teju Ravilochan on resilience.
- Watch: A healthy economy should be designed to thrive, not grow with Kate Raworth on TED.
- Listen: Hoodie Economics, an alternative economics values system embracing Indigenous thinking and other philosophies, with Jack Manning Bancroft on NITV Radio.
- Learn: Regenerative Economy, by John Fullerton on Recipes for Wellbeing.
INDUSTRY GOSS
- Renee Place is the new Executive Producer of SPRUNG Dance.
- Caitlin Comerford is stepping down as Artistic Director at Stompin.
- Leah Maund is stepping down as General Manager at Western Australian Youth Theatre Company.
- Creative Australia has announced appointments to the inaugural First Nations Board.
- James Brown has stepped down as Head of Circus Studies at NICA.
- Justine Hyde has been appointed the new CEO at Abbotsford Convent.
- Barking Gecko Theatre & AWESOME Arts have announced they will be merging to become Barking Gecko Arts.
- Gene Smith has been appointed the Head of Programming at the Wheeler Centre.
- Loren Kronemyer has been appointed the new Artistic Director at The Unconformity.
Business Manager, CircusWA (WA). Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
Finance Officer, Vulcana Circus (QLD). Apply by 6 Oct.
Board Directors (Voluntary), Ten Days on the Island (TAS). Apply by 7 Oct.
Digital Platforms Manager, Creative Australia (NSW or VIC). Apply by 7 Oct.
Partnerships Account Manager, RISING (VIC). Apply by 9 Oct.
Head of Operations and Administration, CIRCA (QLD). Apply by 13 Oct.
International Project Officers, Creative Australia (NSW or VIC). Apply by 13 Oct.
International Project Officer, Creative Australia (NSW). Apply by 13 Oct.
Head of Finance, Back to Back Theatre (VIC). Apply by 14 Oct.
Board Member (Voluntary), APHIDS (VIC). EOIs by 17 Oct.
General Manager, Brown’s Mart (NT). Apply by 24 Oct.
Community Reference Group Member(Voluntary), Substation (VIC). Apply by 31 Oct.