TNA STUFF

6 May – 2021 Annual Report & AGM
Read TNA’s Annual Report for 2021. This will be received and considered at TNA’s famously fast AGM. 12:30–12.50pm AEST, online. Only members can vote but all are welcome.

10 May – TNA’s Champions Meetup – How to Vote (well)
For the final session in our series of online meet-ups, we have guest speaker: Bill Browne, Senior Researcher, Democracy & Accountability Program, the Australia Institute. Bill will present on how the two Houses work; preferencing; voting above or below the line; and how to do some research before voting day. Members and non-members welcome.

VIPI Unlocking Capacity 2022 Recipients
Seven Victorian independent performing arts producers have been awarded VIPI’s Unlocking Capacity Grants: up to $35,000 p/a for up to three years. The recipients are Alison Halit, Brett Nathan Clarke, Dylan Singh, Efren Pamilacan, Eliki Reade, Lana Nguyen and Laura Milke Garner. A strategic partnership with Performing Lines will also support a Senior Producer in Victoria. A huge congratulations! VIPI is delivered by TNA in partnership with Creative Victoria. More info on the Unlocking Capacity recipients on the Creative Victoria website.

Listen to Behind the Scenes (April and May)
In April: Katerina Kokkinos-Kennedy speaks about grappling with the climate crisis through her artistic practice ­– without fear, with hope, and with a sense of what kind of future we’d like to build. In May: Jessica Olivieri, Artistic Director of UTP, speaks about the company’s guiding provocation for 2022 – Radical Accessibility.

Getting an Australian Business Number (ABN) as an Independent Artist
Registering an ABN is a straightforward process. Having an ABN may allow you to reduce your tax-deductible income. It also makes you eligible to apply for some grants that would otherwise require an auspice. In some instances, you may qualify for schemes available to small businesses.

NATIONAL STUFF

6 May – Australian Multicultural Foundation (AMF) Carla Zampatti Scholarship for Young Women
$10,000 AMF Scholarship to support a project or activity that will help young women achieve their goals. Applicants must be female (including female identifying persons) aged 18–29, Australian or PR, from a new and emerging community that is culturally and linguistically diverse and is experiencing disadvantage.

8 May – Darwin Fringe: ‘What in the World’ Cabaret EOIs (NT)
For those interested in creating a new cabaret act that is absurd and satirical. Workshops run in May, with rehearsals in May–July for those who wish to present at Darwin Fringe. Registrations for the workshops are full, but email annathomsoncomedy@gmail.com to be placed on the waiting list, with a bit about your performance background and what you’re interested in exploring.

8 May – Riverside National Theatre of Parramatta: Open Day (NSW)
An opportunity for Riverside to meet and connect with artists, creators and professionals in, or have a strong connection to Western Sydney. Sessions include: ParraPitch for creators with ideas, Open Portfolio for professional set, lighting, sound, costume designers, dramaturgs and other creatives, and Open Auditions for performers.

9 May – Critical Path x Performance Space: Experimental Choreographic Residency (NSW)
2-week residency for artists or groups focusing on experimental choreographic practice. 1–12 Aug at The Drill Hall. The successful project will receive up to $8,000 towards project expenses: fees, equipment and materials costs, travel and accommodation, production support.

16 May – Ausdance Victoria ‘Creative Ageing Through Dance’ Course: Module 1
This four-week online course introduces learners to the theory and practice of safely teaching and facilitating dance and expressive movement to older people. $33 for Ausdance VIC members, $66 for non-members. This is the first of 4 modules.

19 May – APAM: Blak Lounge
This second instalment of Blak Lounge brings together International First Peoples artists, presenters and producers for networking, reflection and exchange. Register your interest.

23 May – Chamber Made Orange House by the Sea Artist Residency
Open to mid-career artists working at the intersections of sound, performance and music, who are trans women, cis women, trans men, non-binary and gender non-conforming people. Residency includes $3,000 artist fee, accommodation and access to a mentor and childcare.

24–27 May – APAM: Pause, Play, Perform Registrations
Immersive digital program exploring the market for hybrid and digital performance. Includes showcase performances, deep dives into national innovation and international best practices, networking and workshops. Registrations are free.

25 May – Arts on Tour: The Backroads Initiative (NSW)
Supports up to 50% of the performance/delivery fee (including touring costs) of a small-scale professional touring production to smaller towns and remote communities in regional NSW. Applications can propose to extend a regional tour or support a new tour to non-professional venues in regional NSW.

26 May – Platform LAB Professional Development Series
Monthly online lectures led by guest practitioners working across Australia and internationally. Curated by Bureau of Works, these seminars will  build artists’ professional capacity in curatorial practice, arts project management, community engagement and marketing. Individual tickets at $10 or a discounted bundle for $50. 

30 May – Arts Wellbeing Collective: Lived Experience Advisory Group EOIs
This is a paid position to join the Advisory Group for the preventative health initiative by Arts Centre Melbourne. Accepting EOIs nation-wide, from people with a lived experience of temporary or ongoing poor mental health and a connection to the performing arts sector. 

31 May – Vitalstatistix: Call for Adhocracy Proposals
For artists across theatre, live art, dance, sound, installation and more to develop new work in this year’s 4-day annual national hothouse. $3,000–$5,000 provided towards fees, transport and accommodation. Two-week creative development residency available for a South Australian-led creative team, with up to $6,000 towards the selected project.

31 May – Arts NT Grants (NT)
Creative Communities Grant offers $5,000 for initiatives that increase community participation and access to arts and culture. Quick Response Grants offer $1,000 for opportunities that arise at short notice.

5 June – Sidney Myer Creative Fellowships
Grants of $160,000 over two years to ‘early mid-career’ individual Australian artists, arts managers and thought leaders across visual, performing, interdisciplinary, new media and literary arts. The two criteria used to select Fellows are: outstanding talent and exceptional courage in their artistic practice.

13 June – Brisbane Powerhouse x QUT’s Wandima Fellowship (QLD)
Supporting early-career Indigenous Australian creative practitioners and recent graduates from all areas of arts practice or administration. The year-long fellowship includes residency/internship at Brisbane Powerhouse, financial support of $20,000 which can be put towards per diem, travel costs, mentor fees.

Arts on Tour – Green Touring Toolkit
Toolkit developed in consultation with artists, creatives, arts managers and environmental sustainability experts as a practical, step by step companion guide to greening the production and touring process. Further guides and templates to implement the ideas are also available.

Readings: ‘How Neoliberalism Swallowed Arts Policy’ & ‘Creative Hotspots in the Regions’
Lauren Carroll Harris traces the history of arts policy in Australia in Kill Your Darlings, and The Australian Research Council has released the ‘Australian Cultural and Creative Activity: A Population and Hotspot Analysis’, a national study investigating creative hotspots in regional and non-capital cities and towns before Covid-19.

VICTORIAN STUFF

8 May – Geelong Art Centre’s Creative Engine: Community Fuel
Series of micro-grant events inviting local creatives and arts orgs to pitch ideas to members of the Geelong community. 100% of cash from the $10 entry tickets goes directly to the winning pitch, plus matched funding from Geelong Arts Centre. Applications to pitch closes 8 May.

9 May – Arts Moreland First Nations Creative Consultation EOIs
Seeking Australian First Nations creatives to be part of a consultation team. The team will devise a long-term program/project plan that supports Moreland’s First Nations creative community across 3 to 5 years. 3 x 3hr meetings, $750 per person; $1200 package for Chairperson.

12 May – Melbourne Fringe Fair
Registrations for this year’s festival opens 9 May and there is a fair for artists and producers. If you’re looking for the right venue, a producer, or just wanting to chat Fringe, register for this casual event. 

4 May–18 May – (In)Corporeal Encounters
Free discussions hosted by VCA Dance x Dancehouse to divine possibilities for future dance(r)s. Upcoming conversations: ‘Speculative Futures’, ‘Emergent disorders of the (kin)aesthetic’ and ‘Weathered Bodies’.

22 May – Maribyrnong City Council: Found Works Program
Support of $3,000–$5,000 for artists from the West towards the rediscovery of performing arts works that were stopped/delayed due to disruption over the past two years, and related professional development activities. Up to $2,500 mentorship fee available.

30 May – Regional Arts Victoria: Arts & Education Touring EOIs
Open to an artist or company making educational and engaging work for young people, led by, or significantly involving First Nations, CALD and/or regionally based artists. Work should be able to take place online or in-person at schools, community halls, performing arts centres or local events.

1–12 June – RISING Multitud Call Out
Movement-based performance looking for participants. Open to individuals (no background in performance is needed), who are interested in the project and connecting to the local community. Participants receive a one-off $900 honorarium and meals.

15 June – Fringe at Gasworks
Applications are open for artists to present their show at Gasworks’ two theatres as part of the Fringe Festival.

25–26 June – Improvisation Workshops (East Gipplsand)
Improvisation workshops held by The Dog Theatre and Born In A Taxi, using refined methodology for teaching and performing ensemble improvisation. Cost: $199 includes both workshops and tickets to the Waiting Room.

ASSITEJ STUFF – YOUTH ARTS & YOUNG AUDIENCES

12 May – Australian Youth Dance Festival (AYDF) EOIs
AYDF is looking for youth dancers to work with industry professionals in a week-long program from 3–8 Jul. Program includes professional practice, skills development workshops, performance making, development of sector literacy, and studio-based sharing.

13 May – Please Stand Auditions Call Out (VIC)
Please Stand is a new work by Lara Thoms and Samara Hersch being presented at two major festivals in Europe in Aug 2022. They are looking for 18–25-year-olds interested in contemporary performance, theatre, politics, activism, and an opportunity to speak their truth to large international audiences. Paid opportunity: approx. $1,000 a week. Rehearsals/tour will be from 18 July–1 Sept. Submit your EOI.

22 May – Theatre Council Tasmania Scholarships (TAS)
Four scholarships available offering financial support for young Tasmanians to further their professional theatre training. $2,500 each for students studying a Theatre and Performance major as part of a BA at the University of Tasmania. $5,000 each for students studying in states/territories outside of Tasmania.

1 July – Carclew Fellowships
Offers $10,000 for professional development to emerging artists and arts workers aged 26 years or under. A minimum of one Fellowship will be awarded to an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicant.

18–20 July – ATYP’s Youth Performing Arts Summit
Companies and organisations, from, and connected to, the youth performing arts will connect again in this three-day event in Sydney; to share stories, concerns and solutions, as we all navigate our fast changing world. Info and registrations on site. 

CIRCUS & PHYSICAL THEATRE (CaPT) STUFF

10–11 May – Riga International Conference on Circus Education (RIGA ICCE 2022)
From talks to workshops, many of the sessions are available online for free. View the full program.

16 May–20 May – TNA’s CaPT Producers Club 
These bi-monthly sessions are for Victorian-based circus and physical theatre independent producers to meet in person for a cuppa and a biscuit. On 16 May: open session for emerging, mid and established producers. On 20 May: established producers only. Interested interstate producers can still reach out, if there’s enough interest there may be an option to join via Zoom. Email Steph to register your interest. 

TNA x Circus Oz Circus Sector Feedback
In the evolving context of Circus Oz’ transformation, TNA and Circus Oz are seeking your ideas or responses on the Circus Sector. Please feel free to jot your ideas in this survey form. These ideas will be kept anonymous but the aggregate trends and individual quotes (de-identified) may be shared.

INDUSTRY GOSS

• Courtney Stewart has been appointed as La Boite’s incoming Artistic Director. Courtney is currently the Artistic Associate at Contemporary Asian Australian Performance (CAAP).
• Joon Kwok has been announced as Executive Producer of Adelaide Festival Centre’s OzAsia Festival.
• Megan Collier has stepped down as Arts & Education Coordinator at Regional Arts Victoria, and has started in the role of Senior Programming & Partnerships Officer at the National Trust in UK.
• Grainne Brunsdon has started as Head of Content at Screen Australia. Previously, Grainne was Director of Arts Investment, Engagement & Development at Create NSW.
• Sharon Custers has stepped down as Executive Director at Arena Theatre. Gemma Robertson will be stepping into the role of Executive Director.
• William McBride has been appointed the new Executive Producer of Phillip Adams BalletLab/Temperance Hall.
• Chamber of Arts and Culture WA has two new additions to the team: Ryan Sandilands as their Communications and Engagement Manager, and Natalie Norella as their Business Administrator.
• Australia Council has two new Heads of Practice: Zohar Spatz in the role of Head of Community and Experimental and Sarah Greentree in the role of Head of Dance and Multi Arts.

POSITIONS VACANT