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NATIONAL STUFF

Announcement – Australian Theatre Forum comes to Brisbane, September 2011
The second Australian Theatre Forum is scheduled to be held during the Brisbane Festival, September 2011. The Queensland Government, through Arts Queensland, has made an in-principal financial commitment for the event. Brisbane Powerhouse is pleased to be on board as the venue partner for the Forum. For further information, contact Theatre Network Victoria, which is scoping the event for the Australia Council for the Arts.

Women Directors – issues and national meeting
An outcome from the Australian Theatre Forum in May last year was the renewal of the AWDA – Australia Women Directors’ Alliance. This group has since been meeting and advocating for changes in the industry regarding the employment of women directors. In November 2009, the AWDA members met with Lyn Wallis, Director of Theatre, Australia Council, to outline issues concerning women directors in relation to MPAB companies. The Australia Council promised to fund a national forum on the issue, which was held on Monday May 10th, hosted by Company B Belvoir – Women Theatre Directors Action Planning Forum. 100 people attended from around the country. Outcomes will be out soon.

TheatreSpace Research Project into Young Audiences
TheatreSpace is a four-year research project investigating the young audiences (14 – 30 years of age) of our state theatre companies and cultural venues in New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria. A partnership between the universities of Melbourne, Sydney and Griffith, TheatreSpace is the largest research project of its kind in Australia. The TheatreSpace findings will be released at the end of 2011 in an international symposium at the Sydney Opera House. Currently, researchers are looking at whether family or education programming is the more effective in sustaining young people as independent audiences.

Australia Council’s Artistic Vibrancy Resources
The Australia Council has developed a set of resources on artistic vibrancy and how to measure it. This fills the gap in the research into artistic vibrancy and real-world tests of performance measurement in the arts. The resources are: 1. Defining artistic vibrancy: a discussion paper. 2. ‘Tell me honestly – – –’: good practice case studies of artistic self-assessment in performing arts organisations. 3. Artistic vibrancy: self-reflection tool: a set of questions and tools to help performing arts organisations and their boards evaluate their own artistic vibrancy. 4. Meaningful measurement: a review of the literature about measuring artistic vibrancy: a comprehensive literature review.

YPAA’s National Symposium – Changing Habitats – 8 to 10 June 2010, Brisbane. Volunteer Positions available.
Symposium includes a masterclass with international theatre director, Alexander Devriendt from the Belgian company, Ontroerend Goed. (6-8 June prior to symposium.) If you are interested but feel the pricing is beyond you, please contact YPAA as they still have a range of volunteer positions available.

Regional Arts Australia Conference –’Junction 2010: Connecting the future’ Launceston, 
26 to 29 August 2010
Junction 2010, the seventh biennial Regional Arts Australia national conference, presented in partnership with Tasmanian Regional Arts and the host community Launceston, is set to unleash an explosion of ideas and creativity.

2010 APACA Conference, Passionate Perspectives – 13 to 16 Sept Melbourne. Including the Long Paddock National Touring Forum.
This year’s conference has been designed to build producer/presenter relationships and encourage direct and open dialogue. It will include industry issues, major national and international experts and over 20 different breakout sessions. As part of APACA’s commitment to encourage and support new producers, they have a special package for first time producers to the Conference of $290. (This is a discount of over 55% on the normal fee of $675). First time producers can also attend the Long Paddock forum for an
additional $110.

APAM TV and Forum Transcripts
Missed out on a forum session or want to re-live your APAM experience? Check out APAM TV! Video clips capturing APAM 2010 and forum transcripts are now available on the website.

Who’s Moving Where?

• HotHouse Theatre this week announced the appointment of Jon Halpin as the company’s new Artistic Director. Jon most recently held the positions of Artistic Associate with QTC and as Associate Artists with Metro Arts – Brisbane.
  • Olivia Allen has been appointed as the new Artistic Director of Riverland Youth Theatre. Olivia is the founder of the independent theatre company, Ignite and has worked extensively as an assistant director at Malthouse Theatre and Melbourne Theatre Company. • Patrick McIntyre has joined Sydney Theatre Company as Chief Operating Officer. Patrick was most recently General Manager of the Australian Ballet. • The Village Festival has appointed its first General Manager – Ariane Ramsay, who will work alongside Co-Directors Ian Pidd, Stuart Vaskess and Suzanne Kalk. • Debby Maziarz is leaving Westside Circus and the circus is seeking a new Executive Director. • Geoffrey Williams has left his position as Executive Producer of Chamber Made Opera after four years, and will be moving to Indonesia to work at the Ubud Writers Festival. • Aphids is thrilled to announce the appointment of Willoh S. Weiland to the position of Artistic Director.

VICTORIAN STUFF

Victorian Theatre Meeting, Lawler Theatre, MTC, 16th September, 1.30 – 5.30pm Theatre Network Victoria will host a Victorian Theatre Meeting after the final morning of the APACA conference, thanks to support from APACA and the Melbourne Theatre Company. Program detail is TBC, but pencil in the date if you are based in Victoria and are working in the Theatre sector. There will be a small fee to cover afternoon tea costs only.

Emily’s List Training – Empowering the Community Sector Series
Queen Victoria Women’s Centre, Cost – $40 (Members)/ $65 (Non-Members) This series is designed to give women in senior levels of the community sector essential skills, insight and tips on how to impact the political process as they advocate for their organisation’s key issues to be placed on the election policy agenda. Understanding Parliament and Government (16th June); Introduction to Lobbying (30th June or Weds 28th July); Election Campaigning for a Cause (14th July); Progressive Debate Framing (11th August); Managing the Media (25th August); Advanced Lobbying – Lobbying Labor (8th September).

The Storeroom – End of an Era at the Parkview Hotel – Celebration June 5th
After 10 years in one of Melbourne’s best loved and vibrant venues for the independent sector, Store Room Theatre bids a fond farewell to the upstairs of the Parkview Hotel, North Fitzroy. 
To celebrate the end of one era and the beginning of another, Todd MacDonald and Ben Harkin (co-founders of the venue) will host one final event on Saturday the 5th June. The evening will incorporate performances from over the years as well as an auction of memorabilia and key items from the space.

2010 Not For Profit Innovation Summit, 20 July 2010, 9-4:30 at Docklands, Melbourne. The Office for the Community Sector’s annual summit. FREE
Join us for the day where we will hear about the new and innovative ways community organisations are evolving in response to changing communities and needs. We will learn about what the revolution in ICT has meant to the way some organisations work and share ideas, about how the sector can work collaboratively to ensure ongoing responsiveness.

INTERNATIONAL STUFF

Happy 50th Birthday to Americans for the Arts – Green Papers
As a way to celebrate the successes of the past 50 years in the arts field, Americans for the Arts has collected Green Papers from a variety of national arts service organizations and peer groups representing different perspectives and disciplines (sadly the Theatre green paper is not yet complete).

New York Arts and Cultural Management Study Tour. Mon 1- Fri 5 Nov, 2010.
Kape Communications is offering discounted fares for their annual New York Arts and Cultural Management Study Tour. Over five intensive days, participants will meet with some of New York’s most respected cultural leaders, including representatives from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Brooklyn Museum, the American Arts and Business Council, Public Theatre (Shakespeare in the Park) and many others. Fees apply, however a 10% discount is available if you register and pay before Wednesday 30 June