Theatre Network Australia (TNA) is a national industry development and advocacy organisation for the performing arts. We prioritise support for independent artists, arts workers, and arts organisations. Since our founding in 2009, TNA has grown from a Victorian-based initiative into a nationally recognised leader in performing arts advocacy, sector development, and capacity building.  

Our vision is for a strong, healthy, and relevant performing arts sector. We stand as a trusted ally for artists and arts workers across theatre, dance, circus and physical theatre, and contemporary performance.  

In practical terms this means TNA:  

  • Provides advice to industry and government 
  • Drives advocacy campaigns with other peak bodies  
  • Bring the sector together through networking, gatherings and peer-learning 
  • Promotes and models best practice equity and justice approaches 
  • Undertakes research and benchmarking 
  • Provides information through our E-News, databases, and online resource library.  

We design our work to address the gaps, and our approach is underpinned by a spirit of care, deep listening, and trust in the sector’s own capacity to make progress.  

Our members benefit from representation, a vast support network, and practical tools to navigate the challenges of a changing arts landscape. 

Our Story


TNA is based in Melbourne and was founded as Theatre Network Victoria in 2009 by nine Victorian companies, led by Nicole Beyer as Executive Director. Nicole began with an Advisory Committee, a laptop, a notebook and a pen. In 2016, we started trading as Theatre Network Australia, in recognition of the national scope of our work.

The organisation was established in response to an urgent need for sector development, as evidenced by a 2007 Deloitte report showing the fragile nature of the small to medium sector. The success of this 18-month project resulted in annual funding from (then) Arts Victoria.

Early on, we recognised that the theatre sector across Australia was also in need of an organisation to represent them and support their work. After the 2009 Australian Theatre Forum, we successfully proposed to the Australia Council to take stewardship of the ATF, producing the subsequent biennial forums.

We have since increased our representation of the performing arts sector nationally to include hybrid and interdisciplinary work, dance, physical theatre and circus, as well as presenters and festivals.

In 2016 when TNA became a national organisation, we also took on the representation of Young People and the Arts Australia’s constituency, which is now supported with TNA as the ASSITEJ Australia ‘office’.

In 2017, following two Sector Reviews commissioned by Creative Victoria and undertaken by Andrew Bleby and Associates, TNA took on some of the services that ACAPTA used to provide to the circus and physical theatre sector.

TNA now operates with a ‘T’ model which is reflected in our tiered membership prices, delivering an overarching high level Federal strategy of advocacy, research, communications and gatherings, and a deep program of activity in our home state.