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NATIONAL STUFF

Convictions + Connections Australian Theatre Forum 2011 September 14-16, Brisbane Powerhouse, Queensland Urgent conversations, compelling ideas, inspiring vision.

Theatre-makers and arts workers from around Australia — working as independents, in large and small companies, in festivals and venues — will congregate in Brisbane in September for the second Australian Theatre Forum. Coinciding with Brisbane Festival 2011, this forum will see cultural leaders and contemporary thinkers teasing out some of the big issues around practice, infrastructure and sustainability. Over three inspiring days, delegates will exchange experiences and ideas, and build vision for a future where ‘business as usual’ is not an option. Curated by Fiona Winning, alongside Associate Curator Diat Alferink, the project will be managed by Rebecca Meston with the support of a national committee. The ATF has received support from Australia Council, Arts Queensland, Brisbane City Council, Powerhouse, Brisbane Festival, Theatre Network Victoria and Metro Arts. For information about the ATF or a Brisbane theatre-makers’ meeting to be held in the next month. (link removed).

IFACCA World Summit 3–6 October – keynotes announced The first keynote speakers at the ‘Creative Intersections’ Summit of the International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies have been announced: Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, Jacques Martial and Wan Smolbag. Government and cultural leaders from over 80 countries will attend the Summit, co-hosted by IFACCA and the Australia Council for the Arts, with the support of Arts Victoria. (link removed).

Harold Mitchell AC to undertake private arts funding review Arts Minister Simon Crean has announced that Harold Mitchell AC, Executive Chairman of the Mitchell Communication Group, will chair a review of private sector support for the arts in Australia. Minister Crean said the review’s aim was to explore ‘ways to increase corporate and philanthropic support for artistic practice.’ It is expected this review will be completed by the end of October 2011.

Disrupt! Creating New Momentum, the 25th APACA Performing Arts Conference, at the new and spectacular State Theatre Centre of WA, Perth. Running in collaboration with the Australia Council for the Arts’ Marketing Summit and the Blue Heeler Network Long Paddock National Touring Forum, this series of events is your one-stop-shop for professional development this year. Marketing Summit 29, 30 August; APACA 30, 31 August; Long Paddock 1, 2 September 2011.

APACA Drover Award for Tour of the Year If you have undertaken (and completed) a tour to five APACA venues in the period 1 May 2010 to 30 April 2011, your production is eligible to be nominated for Tour of the Year.

Digital Technology and the performing arts: AMPAG paper The Australian Major Performing Arts Group (AMPAG) has recently completed a scoping paper on the impact of digital technology in order to bring performing arts companies up to speed with new technology developments and explore different models. (A forum on this topic is being planned later in 2011, which will be co-hosted by the Australia Council.) The paper is also being used to inform government and ensure that the arts are not left out of discussions about the future of the National Broadband Network.

$10,000 Australia Council and Hopscotch Touring Initiative This pilot initiative supports national or international tours of innovative Australian live art (theatre, performance art and site-specific work). Work must be tour-ready. Applications close 13 May 2011.www.australiacouncil.gov.au/grants/grants/hopscotch_touring_initiative.

Big Green Idea deadline extended until 16 May Big Green Idea is a British Council and LRQA initiative designed to attract Australia’s brightest entrepreneurs to develop inventive sustainability projects. Apply for up to $20,000 to kick-start an innovative project in areas including travel, energy, water, commercially applicable projects for industry, sustainable design, initiatives for creative industries, positive communications campaigns and the effect of climate change on socially disadvantaged communities.

VICTORIAN STUFF

State Budget to deliver $73m to the arts over next four years The Victorian State Budget, brought down this week, is good news for a number of lapsing arts and cultural programs and other initiatives, whose funding will be renewed.

The Budget, as outlined by Arts Victoria, delivered $11.3 million in renewed support for Victoria’s small and independent arts companies. The decision has been touted a huge success by the Australian Industry Council (Victoria), TNV and other arts organisations who campaigned to End Sunsets for the Arts in the lead-up to the budget announcement.

TNV e-news giveaway: No Place Like double passes MU Student Union’s Union House Theatre is offering free double passes to No Place Like on Saturday 21 May, 7:30pm, to the first two people to email uht@union.unimelb.edu.au with the subject ‘TNV giveaway’. Written by Chris Summers and directed by Tom Gutteridge, No Place Like is a blistering, black epic – part fiction, part close observation – raising some serious questions about the idea of ‘home’, the many forms it can take and how hard we struggle to create it.

Women directors of circus and physical theatre laboratory workshops The Women’s Circus is hosting a two-week pilot program of laboratory workshops for women directors of physical theatre and circus. The labs will be facilitated by Sue Broadway (Moomba Parade Director) and Debra Batton (Artist in Residence of the Women’s Circus). An opportunity to develop your skills, explore possibilities and share experiences. Week 1: Laboratory for Experienced Women Directors, 9–13 May; Week 2: Laboratory for Emerging Directors, 16–20 May.

Showcase Victoria: 26–27 May, Clocktower Centre, Mooney PondsShowcase Victoria is the annual event bringing Producers and Presenters together to build relationships and foster discussion about touring performing arts throughout Victoria. Producers who are not pitching or showcasing a show can still attend to get an idea of how Showcase works, for a reduced registration fee.

Workshop of how to receive donations through workplace giving This two hour workshop will explain how workplace giving works; give an insight into how other organisations have established workplace giving programs and how to demonstrate the benefits of workplace giving to business.

The workshop will feature Adam Posner, CEO and founder of Directivity Marketing, who will illustrate the steps to a corporate partnership, ensuring each organisation walks away with a plan for engaging corporate support for its work. The workshop will be held on 23 May, 9 11am, VECCI, Level 5 Function Centre, 486 Albert Street, East Melbourne.

Getting to know philanthropy: VCOSS training. 31 May, Healesville The VCOSS 2011 Rural and Regional Training Program is delivering 40 face-to-face training sessions across the State to staff and volunteers from the not-for-profit community sector on a variety of topics.

Free seminar: Is strategic planning important? Do I really need a business plan? 4–6pm, 17 May Through stories from arts organisations and those who support them, this Arts Victoria seminar looks at the role of strategic planning. Speakers are Veronica Pardo, Arts Access Victoria; Judith Bennet, Creative Industries Innovation Centre; Rebecca Forgasz, Jewish Museum of Australia; and Linda Lucas, Arts Victoria. At the Grainger Room, Arts Victoria, Level 6, 2 Kavanagh St, Southbank. RSVP by 10 May.

Major Indigenous arts commissioning opportunity Indigenous Cultural Expressions is a new opportunity for Victorian artists, supporting a new public artwork or project of any art form that celebrates the strength, richness and diversity of Indigenous culture. Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists/project teams can apply, though it is expected that Indigenous artists will lead a central role in the project. Expressions of interest close 24 May.

Senior staff mentorship opportunity with Greatconnections Volunteer mentors from Greatconnections are matched with a senior staff member from an arts organisation to undertake a mentorship to develop specific leadership capabilities.

arts2GO expressions of interest open arts2GO is a fully curated program delivering arts experiences to schools and community venues across Victoria. Work can be presented in performance, workshop or residency form, and should include elements of drama, dance, music, visual arts, media and/or literature. Submissions close 27 May 2011(link removed).

MOVEMENTS

Theatre Works welcomes new Creative Producer Daniel Clarke The Theatre Works Board has announced the appointment of Daniel Clarke as Creative Producer. Daniel has worked in Australia, the UK and the US as a theatre director, producer and artistic director, and has been awarded a Centenary Medal for services to the community through theatre.

New Artistic Director for ActNow Theatre ActNow Theatre (South Australia) has appointed Sarah Dunn as the new Artistic Director, after her service on the Board of ActNow for two years, ArtsHub reported last week. ActNow will be hosting a small event to welcome Sarah and launch the theatre’s new logo on Friday 13 May, 5:30pm at 15 Peel Street, Adelaide.

INTERNATIONAL STUFF

Live! Singapore: Global Performing Arts Exchange Conference and Trade Fair, 1–3 June 2011 LIVE! Singapore 2011 spans three days, bringing together 1,500 leading arts professionals in Asia Pacific and around the world. The Conference and Trade Fair are a platform for industry leaders to exchange ideas, promote business and network. Visitor registration closes 25 May.

NEA research: measuring the value of performing arts The National Endowment for the Arts has released a new research report, Time and Money: Using Federal Data to Measure the Value of Performing Arts Activities. The research looks at the value of the arts in three ways: a ‘day in the life’ snapshot of how Americans participate in arts and cultural activities; organisational revenue and expenses; and direct consumer spending