Victorian Independent Producers Initiative (VIPI)

VIPI supported independent producers, and through them, independent artists and companies in the performing arts in Victoria.

VIPI Objectives

Through supporting independent producers, this initiative aimed to:

Improve the career and development opportunities for independent producers to increase their numbers and capacities, and the sustainability of independent producing practices
Increase the number of Victorian-based independent artists and companies who are working with independent producers
Improve the sustainable practice of Victorian-based independent artists and companies, locally and globally
Build the diversity of independent producers working in Victoria, both in terms of representation (e.g. First Peoples, Culturally and Linguistically Diverse people, People of Colour, Deaf and Disabled and people based regionally) and the diversity of practice and curation
Increase the reputation of Victoria and Victorian producers internationally and nationally
Increase the amount of work represented by Victorian producers through market development opportunities

Since November 2019, TNA's VIPI program has:

Run three rounds of the Producers Mentorship Program
Run three rounds of the Unlocking Capacity program
Provided four one-on-one coaching sessions for emerging artists and producers
Delivered 18 information sessions and salon workshops, including two Producing Fundamentals series, held at the Melbourne Fringe Common Rooms
Launched TNA’s Independent Producers Database

Read the bios of the Producers Mentorship Program participants and the Unlocking Capacity Grants recipients.
31 of the producers supported from the Producers Mentorship Program and the Unlocking Capacity Grants identify from one or more of our target groups: as First Nations people, People of Colour, Deaf and Disabled people or people based regionally. In addition to these producers, we have paid fees to over 40 other artists and arts workers as part of the VIPI program.

VIPI Program

VIPI was made up of three core components:

The Unlocking Capacity Grant (2019–2025)

Delivered in partnership with Creative Victoria, the Unlocking Capacity Grant supported established independent performing arts producers—with a minimum of three years' of experience and who dedicate at least 50% of their time to their practice—with funding of up to $35,000 per annum for a maximum of three years. From 2019–2022, we opened applications for the grant in three rounds, with the last recipients finishing their funding in 2025. We supported projects for professional development, research for experimental lab structures, and more. You can read more about the projects here.

The Producers Mentorship Program (2019–2022)

The Producers Mentorship Program brought together emerging producers in a peer-learning environment. Producers were given a salary to work part-time on their practice, and attended monthly professional development and mentorship labs, hearing from established practitioners on different aspects of independent producing.

The Salon Series (2019–2023)

The Salon Series brought together VIPI participants and provided an access point to VIPI for those outside of the program. The Salon Series included professional development sessions, networking and peer learning for the independent performing arts sector, including a Producing Fundamentals series, a one-day professional development workshop open to the public. The program also ran ongoing paid one-on-one coaching sessions for artists and emerging producers to discuss career planning, business planning, work-life balance support or networking advice.

More Info

General VIPI FAQs

Producers Mentoring Program FAQs

Unlocking Capacity FAQs

VIPI News

VIPI

VIPI Salon: One-on-One Producer Mentoring Session

3 November 2023

TNA is offering paid one-on-one mentoring for emerging producers based in Victoria, who will be matched up with an experienced…

TNA’s Producing Fundamentals Program Announced!

4 July 2023

Held at the Melbourne Fringe Common Rooms, Producing Fundamentals is a full-day professional development, networking event for VIC-based indie producers. This is an opportunity for you to connect with peers, refresh and develop your producing practice, and hear from established …

TNA’s Producing Fundamentals Returns to the Fringe Common Rooms

13 June 2023

Last year, TNA hosted a two-day series of workshops and networking events for independent producers, as part of the Victorian Independent Producers’ Initiative (VIPI). This year, TNA will be running this again, over one day at the Fringe Common Rooms, …

Events & Gatherings

VIPI Salon: Facilitating Conflict Within Working Relationships with Kate Sulan

6 April 2023

When: Tuesday, 23 May 11:00am–1.30pm AEST (including lunch)Where: TNA Office, G5/152 Sturt St, Southbank VIC 3006 TNA is running a series of salons, professional skills development and networking events for Victorian-based independent performing arts producers. Our first one for the year …

Events & Gatherings

Victorian Independent Producers Initiative (VIPI) Video – Producing Fundamentals

31 July 2022

Over two days in July, TNA hosted a series of in-person workshops and networking events for emerging independent performing arts producers and artists at the Melbourne Fringe Common Rooms. Cobie O, our videographer, was able to capture what those two days looked like, and what they meant to our emerging artists and producers.

Events & Gatherings

Speaker Bios at TNA’s Producing Fundamentals

15 June 2022

Over two days, TNA will be hosting a series of in-person workshops and networking events for emerging independent performing arts producers and artists at the Fringe Common Rooms.