ATF Announcement – Adelaide Festival Centre, 3-5 October 2017
We are thrilled to announce that TNA’s 2017 Australian Theatre Forum will be hosted by Adelaide! ATF2017 will be held from 3–5 October 2017 at the Adelaide Festival Centre as a centrepiece of the 2017 OzAsia Festival. TNA Board, Staff and Key Partners (Australia Council for the Arts, Arts South Australian and Adelaide Festival Centre’s OzAsia Festival) have commenced planning, and we are now seeking sector input. If you have ideas for content, structure or personnel for ATF2017, please add your thoughts here.

Playbox Series by AustralianPlays.org: Read ‘Honour’ by Joanna Murray Smith
Australian Plays is giving TNA subscribers access to the ‘All Australian’ Playbox Collection. Each month, one play will be made available to read, free of charge – a great way to brush up on the rich Australian theatre repertoire. This month features Honour by Joanna Murray Smith. Happy play reading!

Join the Arts Front or submit an Expression of Interest to participate in Arts Front 2030
Arts Front 2030 is a national, three-day gathering of artists, thinkers and change agents from across the country to help shape the future of culture and arts in Australia. It is an initiative of Feral Arts. 120 participants and invited guests will come together in Melbourne, 23-25 November, to work on: developing a shared vision for culture and arts in 2030; building a national network of collaborators; planning joint campaigns and projects. Arts Front 2030 is a free event. Some travel and accommodation bursaries are available to unsalaried attendees. Register to join Arts Front and/or apply to be a participant at the gathering.

27 Sep – Arts on Tour – Community Presenter Touring Grant
Arts on Tour have announced a new touring initative – the Community Presenter Touring Grant – to broaden access to professional presentations in community and regional venues. Available funds range from $500 – $2,500 per venue or $7,500 for a consortium of three or more venues and can be used to support up to 50% of a performance fee. The first round closes on Tuesday 27 September for projects between 1 Jan 2017 – 31 Dec 2018. FAQ and Guideline info here.

4 Oct – AusCo Opportunities: Become a Peer Assessor; Grant info; and Award Nominations
1. Peer Assessors: Australia Council for the Arts is calling for registrations to join their next pool of peer assessors. This is a great opportunity and an important role given the current climate. Artists, First Nations, people under 30 and those with a disability are strongly encouraged to register.
2. Grants: Applications for Australia Council’s next round of grants for all art forms and practices will close on Tuesday 4 October. Read more here.
3. Awards: Nominations for the 2017 Australia Council Awards and the 10th National Indigenous Arts Awards will also close on 4 October.

7 Oct – Adelaide Fringe artist registrations are now open!
Adelaide Fringe is Australia’s largest open-access arts festival. Anyone with a creative vision can register an event. The festival staff will support you through the planning, performance and post-show processes. The 2017 Festival will run from 17 Feb – 19 March. Registrations close on 7 October 2016. Click here to register.

4 Nov – Queensland Cabaret Festival 2017 – Artist Submissions are now open
Programming a mix of international and local artists, the Queensland Cabaret Festival will run from 1 – 11 June 2017 at the Brisbane Powerhouse. Show submissions are now open and will close on Friday 4 November. More info here.

3 Oct – Asialink Arts Residency Applications close
Asialink provides grants of up to $12,000 for residencies of periods of 6 – 12 weeks. Applicants can choose from 54 partner organisations in 13 countries throughout the region. Applications for the 2017 Residency program close 5pm AEST 3rd October 2016. More info.

Sign up for BlakDance enews
Following a period of transition, it is great to see the work that BlakDance is doing. We encourage you to sign up for the BlakDance enews to stay in the loop. More here.

29 Sep – This is Not Art (TiNA) – This weekend
Newcastle is the place to be this long weekend (29 Sep – 2 Oct). This Is Not Art (TiNA) – a contemporary and emerging arts festival – incorporates Critical Animals and the National Young Writers’ Festival and will also feature a dedicated women’s day on Sunday 2 October as part of the Crack Theatre Festival. Attend this year, and keep an eye out for applications next year.

24 Oct – Creative Sparks Grant Program
The Creative Sparks Program is a joint initiative of Brisbane City Council and Queensland Government through Arts Queensland. The program aims to invest in creative community projects, support the development of new work and invest in new partnerships between the arts, community and business. Funding amounts of up to $20,000 per application are available. Applications for the 2016-17 round are now open and will close at midnight on Monday 24 October 2016. More info.

4 Oct – ArtPlay artist learning program: Sue Giles on ‘Taboos in theatre with children’ – $10
This month ArtPlay’s artist learning program will explore taboos in theatre with children. In a hands on workshop facilitated by Polyglot Theatre artistic director Sue Giles, artists will explore where they draw the line, and why. 5.30pm – 7.00pm, Tuesday 4 October at ArtPlay, Birrarung Marr. For bookings and information, click here.

MTC’s NEON NEXT – Free Workshops and Masterclasses
For NEON NEXT 2016, MTC deepens the relationships it has established with the independent sector over the last three years and shift focus towards commissioning new works. Sisters Grimm will stage a new production and Daniel Schlusser and Nicola Gunn will commence work on MTC commissions. NEON NEXT also features a range of free professional development workshops and masterclasses throughout November for independent theatre practitioners on writing, devising, producing, directing and grant writing. Read more here.

10 Nov – 2016 Victorian Touring Workshop at Coopers Malthouse: $25 – $30
Regional Arts Victoria, Theatre Network Australia and the Victorian Association of Performing Arts Centres (VAPAC) will present the 2016 Victorian Touring Workshop to provide support and practical touring advice for performing arts practitioners. This one-day event features panel discussions, case studies and networking opportunities to help you get your show on the road. 10.30am – 4.30pm, Thursday 10 November 2016. Registrations: $25 unfunded | $30 funded. Book your spot here.

1 Nov – City of Port Phillip Grant – New funding opportunity opening soon – Up to $10,000
Opportunities for showcasing arts activity in the new look Acland Street Plaza in 2017 will open on 1 November. Funding of up to $10,000 is available for proposals including pop-ups, public classes, festivals, installations and creative activities that demonstrate the possibilities of the site. Artists and arts and community groups are eligible to apply. More info.

18 Oct – Child Safe Standards – Policy Group update
Following a sector update from Veronica Pardo (Arts Access Victoria) on Child Safe Standards at the Victorian Theatre Forum in July, a policy group has been formed to devise a child safe policy, a code of conduct for staff/volunteers and an empowerment policy for children in arts and cultural organisations. Meetings have been set for 1pm on 18 October and 29 November. If you would like to join the policy group, email VPardo@artsaccess.com.au

Certificate 1 in Work Education (Ignition Theatre), Melbourne Polytechnic – Apply for 2017
Ignition Theatre exists for people with intellectual disabilities and individual learning needs who love making theatre. The Ignition Theatre ‘Industry Elective’ at Melbourne Polytechnic is a vocational training stream in the first year of the Certificate I in Work Education course. To find out more about the program, email workeducationcentre@melbournepolytechnic.edu.au

5 Oct – Democratising the Creative City – An Evening with Indy Johar (UK) – FREE
How do we unleash the many to create, reimagine and remake our cities? As part of Creative Exchange, Creative Victoria and Melbourne School of Design present architect, senior innovation associate and academic, Indy Johar (UK) speaking on ‘Democratising the Creative City’. 6.30pm – 8.00pm Wednesday 5 October at Singapore Theatre, Melbourne School of Design, University of Melbourne, Parkville. Free event, bookings essential. Book now.

21 Oct – Canadian Fringe Lottery Applications now open
For companies interested in touring to at least five Fringes on the circuit, the Canadian Association of Fringe Festivals have devised a one-stop touring application process. Please note that applicants (company or primary contact) must have previously participated in a CAFF-member Fringe Festival to be eligible. The Touring Lottery application deadline is 5pm (CST) on October 21, 2016. Read more here.

14 Oct – IETM Plenary in Valencia, Spain
By becoming more business-like, aren’t we compromising our artistic integrity? And what about the status of the artist – shouldn’t that be our primary concern? Discuss these ideas and more at IETM’s ‘Crossroads’ – a Plenary Meeting in Valencia, Spain from 3 – 6 November 2016. Registrations close 14 October. More info.

4 Oct – Applications for Australia Council’s International Residencies Program close
Applications to the Australia Council’s2017-18 International Residencies Program will close on Tuesday 4 October 2016. High quality performing arts residencies are currently being offered in Helsinki, Rome, Paris and New York. Read more here.

International Director’s Seminar for Children’s and Young People’s Theatre – June 2018
This fantastic seminar will be held in Oldenburg, Germany from 12 – 18 June 2017. The applicant needs to come from the ASSITEJ centre, not individual applicants, so please send an expression of interest to Sue Giles. A panel of past recipients will then select the successful applicant. Deadline for EOIs is Friday 7 October 2016. Read more on the TNA website.

3 Oct – ASSITEJ Congress 2017 – Call for Papers extended
‘Cradle of Creativity’ – the 2017 ASSITEJ World Congress and International Theatre Festival for Childen and Young People – will be held in Cape Town, South Africa from 17 – 27 May, 2017. Please note that the call for papers, panel discussions, workshops etc for the focus days has been extended to 3 October 2016.

For full news and networking opportunities including Next Generation and Vic Youth Arts networks, visit the YPAA & ASSITEJ page on the TNA website.

INDUSTRY GOSS

• St Martins announces Nadja Kostich as its new Artistic Director and Co-CEO.
• Former senior executive of Australia Council and ED of Circa, Collette Brennan, announced as the new CEO of Abbotsford Convent.
• Sheah Sutton has finished up at Snuff Puppets as the position of Executive Producer is being subsumed into the role of CEO/Artistic Director.
• Slingsby Theatre Company and Black Hole Theatre have both been selected for the International Performing Arts For Youth (IPAY) Showcase in Wisconsin, USA in January 2017.
• Jane Scott has finished up as CEO of Craft Victoria.
• Paige Rattray announced as the Associate Artistic Director of Queensland Theatre Company.
• Congratulations to the latest round of Australia Council grant recipients announced at the end of August. Read the full list here.
• Emerging Writers’ Festival announces Jane Howard as the Director of the new Digital Writers’ Festival. The 2016 DWF will take place in November.
• Tracy Margieson has finished up at Gasworks Arts Park to take up a role of Program Coordinator, Arts Wellbeing Collective at Arts Centre Melbourne.
• Simon Abrahams, Melbourne Fringe; Ben Graetz, ILBIJERRI Theatre Company; Fiona MacDonald, Imaginary Theatre; Viv Rosman, Polyglot Theatre and Deanna Smart, Dancenorth announced as the 2017 ISPA Australia Council Regional Fellows.
• Dolly Diamond announced as Artistic Director for the 2017 Melbourne Cabaret Festival.
• Kamarra Bell-Wykes (Victoria); Travis De Vries (NSW); Jonathon Saunders (NT); Glenn Iseger-Pilkington (WA); Jilda Andrews (ACT); and Francoise Lane (Queensland) announced as the 2016 participants of ‘Accelerate’ – an indigenous leadership development program.
• Artistic Director Lindy Hume will leave Opera Queensland at the beginning of 2018.