News & MediaTNA STUFF
TNA Salary Survey Report 2025
TNA’s Salary Survey Report captures the salaries, benefits, professional development budgets, tenure, and representation of small-to-medium organisations in the performing arts sector. Find out what the average salaries are across arts management roles. The report is free for TNA members or can be purchased for $360.
11 Dec – TNA Salary Survey Report Online Speed Briefing
TNA will share key findings and answer questions. This briefing is open to anyone, including non-members. 12.30–1pm AEDT, Zoom. Register now.
Listen to December’s ‘Behind the Scenes’
The final TNA member of the month for this year is multidisciplinary artist and creative producer Teneille Clerke! Teneille is part of the collective, Fast Fashun, that recently received the Melbourne Fringe TNA Artform Shaker Award, for their show Wasteworlds: Non-Stop Runway Show. Teneille talks about her practice and background, and how she ended up in Fast Fashun.
Listen to November’s ‘Behind the Scenes’
Charice Rust updates us on the mini salary survey TNA ran for circus trainers. The TNA member of the month is Anna Molnar! Anna is Program Manager of Disability, Arts Access and Inclusion at Arts Centre Melbourne. Anna talked about her work empowering community onstage and in the audience.
Office Closure
The TNA office will be closed from Monday, December 10 to Monday, January 5. Happy holidays everyone!
NATIONAL STUFF
8 Dec – Punctum x La Trobe Art Institute Residency 2026 EOIs
For a regional artist to undertake a two-week funded residency in Bendigo, regional VIC. Connect with place, people and site through live performance and visual art. The residency provides $3,577, travel allowance, and logistical and mentoring support.
10 Dec – Canberra Theatre Centre ‘Chips, Dips, and Sips’
End of year drinks to celebrate CTC’s New Works, which supports artists. Hear from artists who have been part of the program and learn about how you can be involved.
11 Dec – Creativity and Wellbeing for Young People Funding EOIs (WA)
Up to $75,000 for WA artists and orgs. Supports projects for young people to engage in the arts. There are two stages. Applicants must submit an EOI, and those selected will be invited to apply.
12 Dec – PAC Australia’s Adaptive Futures: Speculative Futures Workshop
For performing arts centres and orgs to lead on climate solutions. The last session for the year will focus on the future we hope for and what we need to start doing to create it.
15 Dec – Create NSW 25/26 Createability Internship (NSW)
Internships for disabled artists and arts workers. Participants are paid by their host orgs.
15 Dec – Prague Quadrennial Symposium Call for Proposals
For costume, lighting, sound, and performance designers. Present papers at the upcoming in-person symposium in the Czech Republic. The symposium will focus on contemporary scenographic practices, curating, and exhibiting.
19 Dec – artsACT Arts Organisation Investment Program (ACT)
Multiyear funding of up to four years. Supports orgs’ core operational and arts program activity costs.
22 Dec – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Development Fund (QLD)
Up to $70,000 to develop and present projects for up to one year. For Queensland-based Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, arts companies, and groups.
4 Jan – Alter State 2026 EOIs
For Deaf and Disabled arts workers interested in being engaged to deliver Alter State 2026, a disability-led arts initiative. Engagement could include performing, producing, facilitating, and more.
4 Jan – Griffin Award 2026
The winning playwright receives a full commission of $17,700, and dramaturgical support from Griffin Theatre Company to develop their play in-house. Griffin Theatre Company has released pre-recorded videos on theme, relevance, urgency, how to write a strong pitch, and more.
5 Jan – ITI Academy Week Theater Der Welt 2026 Fellowships
One-week fellowship for an emerging theatre maker. Attend the international theatre festival in Germany. Exchange perspectives on artistic freedom, censorship, collective care, collaboration and decolonisation. Successful artists receive accommodation, per diems, and travel costs.
20 Jan – Ian Potter Cultural Trust Emerging Artist Grants
Up to $15,000 for emerging artists to undertake professional development opportunities overseas.
31 Jan – Expand Together Grants (SA)
Up to $100,000 for multicultural orgs. Buy equipment or build community facilities for culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
1 Feb – Australian Antarctic Arts Fellowship EOIs
For artists to travel to Antarctica to develop work. There is a two-stage application process. Travel, meals and accommodation are covered.
2 Feb – Eastern Riverina Arts Country Arts Support Program (NSW)
Small grants program for artists in regional NSW. $750 for individuals to develop their practice. Up to $3,000 for groups to develop their projects. There are info sessions being held throughout the region in December.
10 Feb – FLUXUS Opera Lab EOIs
Supporting creatives to develop new opera works through mentorship, collaboration, and financial support. Artists can apply for $5,000 grants and mentorship.
13 Feb – PAC Australia’s Biennial Benchmarking Survey
PAC Australia is collecting key data from performing arts centres on venue operations, employment conditions, and economic activity. Information from the survey is released in two reports: Venue Charges and Salaries Report (a member only resource), and the Economic Activity Report, available to the wider sector.
20 Feb–22 March – Adelaide Fringe Honey Pot
Adelaide Fringe’s international arts marketplace returns. It connects artists with the right programmers. Free for artists and delegates already registered for Adelaide Fringe. The online delegate finder will be released next year on Jan 16.
28 Feb – artsACT Arts Activities Funding (ACT)
Up to $50,000 for artists and orgs to undertake larger projects. This could be creating new work or undertaking professional development and residencies.
A New Approach – ‘The arts, culture and creativity system in Australia: How it ticks’
ANA’s newest report explains how Australia’s arts and culture system is organised, governed and developed. The arts, culture and creativity system has clear structures for creation and production, dissemination and consumption, and preservation and transmission.
VICTORIAN STUFF
Creative State 2028 Strategy
Creative Victoria has released the latest Victorian Government strategy to strengthen and support the state’s creative industries. The strategy comprises of four pillars: First Peoples First, growing our creative community, expanding our creative economy, and an inspiring creative future. There is a strong focus on children and young people, as well as regional and outer suburban communities. TNA continues to assess what the strategy means for our sector.
12 Dec – City of Greater Bendigo Create Lab 2026
$4,000 for local creatives in Greater Bendigo to research, test and develop new ideas, and explore innovative collaborations.
19 Dec – RAV Regional Victorian Creative Sector Survey
Regional Arts Victoria is running a survey on arts workers and artists in regional Victoria. It will take 5-8 minutes.
21 Dec – Centre of Jewish Artists Chanukah Party
For Jewish artists and arts workers to celebrate the festival of Chanukah. Connect with other Jewish creatives. Cost: $16.50.
Midsumma Festival Performance ‘Hot & Heavy’ Seeks Dancers
A queer-led, multi-artform live performance at Midsumma Festival is looking for queer dancers and allies. Join their free workshops in January and perform in the show.
CYPA STUFF (Children, Young People and the Arts)
16 Dec–16 Jan – Carclew Playmakers Summer Theatre Program
For young theatre-makers aged 10–17 to join a two-week program. Culminates in an original performance for the Carclew Summer Theatre Festival. Tiered registration from $225.
12–13 Jan – Ctrl + Alt + Create: Youth Choreographic Workshop Series (VIC)
Workshops on diverse choreographic practices for dancers and actors aged 14–25. With Lana Šprajcer, Tomas Arroquero and Kimball Wong. Cost: $65.
12–23 Jan – SIGNAL Summer 2026
Free creative workshops for young people aged 12–25. Work alongside artists, develop skills and create new work. There are workshops in creative writing, animation, sound design and more.
3 Feb – Marten Bequest Travelling Scholarships 2026
For young artists aged 21–35 to explore, study and develop their practice through travel. $50,000 quarterly instalments over two years. In 2026, the scholarships will provide support for acting, instrumental music, painting and poetry.
3 Feb – The Lady Mollie Isabelle Askin Ballet Scholarship
For young people aged 17–29 with outstanding ability and promise in ballet. Undertake professional development with a $30,000 travel scholarship over two years.
3 Feb – Sir Robert William Askin Operatic Scholarship
For a young man aged 18–29 who has outstanding ability and promise in opera singing. Undertake professional development with a $30,000 travel scholarship over two years.
CAPT STUFF (Circus & Physical Theatre)
Circus Salary Survey Summary
In conjunction with this year’s Salary Survey, TNA conducted a short survey of circus trainer salaries and payment rates. It provides a brief scan of how the youth circus sector operates across the country. You can read the Circus Trainer Salary Survey Report here.
12 Dec – Sparkle Society Arts’ Casting Call for Acro Flyer (QLD)
Seeking a Brisbane-based acro flyer for their new show, Minutia. Minutia is about the small joys found in nature every day. Final development and premier presentation in Feb.
8–18 Jan – Spin Circus: Spinfest & APAC 2026
Three full days of workshops and four-day acrobatic training convention in January. Adult festival tickets for both Spinfest and APAC cost $800.
INDUSTRY GOSS
- Anne-Louise Sarks has been appointed the sole Chief Executive Officer at Melbourne Theatre Company, as the company moves from a Co-CEO model to a single CEO model.
- Justine Shih Pearson is the new Executive Producer at Contemporary Asian Australian Performance.
- Christian Leavesley will be stepping down as Creative Director of Arena Theatre Company at the end of 2025.
- Heather Croall AM will be stepping down as Director and CEO of Adelaide Fringe to move into a new role in 2026.
- Jael Johnson will be stepping down as Executive Director/Co-Leader at Theatre Kimberley.
- Kath Fyffe has been appointed as the Executive Director of State Theatre Company South Australia and will finish in her role at Polyglot this year.
- Tom Gutteridge has stepped down as Head of Programming at Monash University Performing Arts Centres. Ruth Oakley has been appointed to fill the position.
- Felicity Nicol has been appointed as Senior Artistic Associate at Milk Crate Theatre.
- Haneen Mahmood Martin has been appointed the General Manager at Corrugated Iron Youth Arts.
- Erin Adams is the new Marketing and Comms Manager at Women’s Circus.
POSITIONS VACANT
Executive Director, Theatre Kimberley (WA). No closing date.
Aerials and Tumbling Coach, Circus Monoxide (NSW). No closing date.
Circus Trainer (Casual), Circus Centre Melbourne (VIC). Rolling deadline.
Executive Director, Chamber of the Arts and Culture WA (WA). Apply by 5 Dec.
Development Coordinator, RISING (VIC). Apply by 7 Dec.
Partnerships Account Manager, RISING (VIC). Apply by 7 Dec.
Production and Technical Lead, NORPA, Northern Rivers Performing Arts (NSW). Apply by 8 Dec.
Associate Producer, Performance, RISING (VIC). Apply by 12 Dec.
Producer, Performance, RISING (VIC). Apply by 12 Dec.
Program Manager, Dancehouse (VIC). Apply by 12 Dec.
Operations Coordinator, Warehouse Circus (ACT). Apply by 15 Dec.
Lead Trainer, Warehouse Circus (ACT). Apply by 15 Dec.
Creative Producer, Encounter Theatre (WA). Apply by 18 Dec.
Lead Artist, Youth and Community, GUTS Dance (NT). Apply by 19 Dec.
Marketing Project Manager, Essence Theatre Productions (VIC). Apply by 5 Jan.
Philanthropic Support, Essence Theatre Productions (VIC). Apply by 5 Jan.
Marketing & Communications Manager, Dancehouse (VIC). Apply by 12 Jan.