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Theatre Network Australia – Update In Darwin a new theatre sector group is meeting regularly. Theatre Network NSW ran their first formal sector meeting with 85 attendees and a report due out soon; Theatre Council Tasmania is running a Theatre Camp, a stats and facts project and a mentorship project – contact Jane Longhurst at jane@theatrecounciltas.org; and other states have various plans in place.
NATIONAL STUFF
Women in Theatre report released The Report was commissioned by the Major Performing Arts Board and released last week on the Australia Council website. It’s full of information and statistics garnered over two years’ research.
Disability and employment in the arts survey – closes 7 May Arts Access Australia and DADAA are conducting a survey looking at arts sector employment for people with disability in Australia, as artists and as employees of arts organizations, with a view to creating resources to help increase employment rates.
Superannuation increase – budget now for 2013!
As you may know, the government is gradually increasing the Superannuation Guarantee rate to 12% (from 9%). The rate will be increased gradually with initial increments of 0.25 percentage points on 1 July 2013 and on 1 July 2014. Further increments of 0.5 percentage points will apply annually up to 2019–20, when the SG rate will be set at 12%. So for your 2013 budgets, you need to budget 9.25% super after 1 July 2013. And remember: you now have to pay super for contractors as well.
Call for submissions – YPAA National Symposium, deadline 11 May
Submissions are being taken to present at YPAA’s National Symposium, which asks “How do we translate the language of the arts?” Presentations can be workshops, digital presentations, panel discussions, in other languages and more.
In the Mix – closes 28 May
In the Mix supports innovative cross cultural collaborations between Major Performing Arts theatre organisations, the Theatre Board’s Key Organisations, and culturally and linguistically diverse groups and artists. MPA theatre companies or Key Organisations (Theatre) can apply for a grant for up to $30,000
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Asian Arts Theatre Residency_Korea: 16–23 September
Deadline for submissions is 11 May. Platform for artists to develop their works, openly share their ideas and be more imaginative in contemporary arts forms. The purpose of the residency is to provide an environment for the selected artists to further develop their project and to share it.
Regional Arts Australia National Conference in SA, 18–21 October
For professional artists, arts workers and volunteers interested in fostering and maintaining their local arts and culture.
PlayWriting Australia State Exchange – closes 4 June
The State Exchange program supports artists with cross-country collaborations by contributing to travel and accommodation expenses. Proposed activities must support the further development of a new Australian theatre work.
Applications open for Theatre Works’ Selected Works Program – closes 4 May
Artists from across Australia are invited to submit proposals for the 2013 Selected Works Program, through which up to $25,000 worth of support for independent artists to present work is available.
TNV and ArtsPeak urge Crean to support S2M sector
TNV joined other ArtsPeak organisations to write to Minister Simon Crean and the state and territory arts ministers to urge against cuts to arts funding and, in particular, to increase funding to the small to medium sectors. We wrote: “The S2M sector is financially fragile and yet this sector is where artistic innovation and risk is most apparent, and where Australian content is most visible…but for the most part funding to the S2M sector has fallen behind both in real terms and per capita of population.” We requested “a substantial increase in funding to the S2Ms, beginning with a minimum of 10% in real terms on current expenditure levels in the May 2012 budget”.
VICTORIAN STUFF
Arts House invites artists’ EOIs for presenting/developing work – deadline 11 May Artists are invited to submit an expression of interest for either presentations and/or developments in any of the three Arts House venues – North Melbourne Town Hall, Warehouse and Meat Market. 2013 Season 1 deadline 11 May; Season 2 deadline 15 October.
Pros and Cons of Endowments and Foundations, 22 May, 2–7pm – FREE Seminar for board directors, CEOs, fundraising and development staff from cultural organisations to learn about endowments and foundations. Telstra Conference Centre, Level 1, 242 Exhibition Street, Melbourne.
City of Melbourne Arts Funding – Grant Writing Skills Workshop, Tuesday 29 May RSVP by 23 May. With Anita Larkin. Multicultural Arts Victoria, Level 1, South Melbourne Town Hall, 208 –220 Bank Street, South Melbourne Two sessions: 1–3pm.
Registrations open for Showcase, May 29–30, Frankston Arts Centre Showcase Victoria is the premier state performing arts touring event. This year there’s a discounted “observer” rate – a great opportunity to see the pitching process and some good work, speak to presenters about their vision for programming and meet with other producers.
Submissions for the RAV 2013 Education and Families Program – closes 8 June Regional Arts Victoria’s incursion program is fully curated with the purpose of delivering arts experiences to schools and community venues across Victoria.
New $20,000 Balnaves Indigenous Playwright’s Award – closes 31 August The national Balnaves Award is for the creation of a new play by an Indigenous playwright. The award comprises $7,500 prize money and a $12,500 commission for a new play each year. Applications will be accepted from writers of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent.
Melbourne Producer Development Seminar – 17 May
Running from 9am til 5.30pm at Melbourne Theatre Company. $55/$155. Book by 3 May.
Thriving in Uncertainty Conference: build capacity to navigate change, 12–13 July
For anyone who wants to bring empathy, creative thinking, agility and a sense of fulfillment to their work or practice. Program includes Melbourne Playback Theatre Company, Viv McWaters, Andrew McMasters (USA), Dr Mike Askew, Jill Bernard (USA), Nick Byrne, Lynne Cazaly, Cindy Tonkin and Johnnie Moore (UK). Conference runs 9.30am – 4.30pm both days. PLUS Impro Expo Thursday 12 July, 5–7pm.
$750. Special for TNV members: 10% off; quote melbplayback as promo code.
INTERNATIONAL STUFF
Report into young theatre audience finds free ticket scheme paid off Arts Council England and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport have published report into the A Night Less Ordinary scheme, which set out to test whether theatre attendance by under 26s could be increased by offering free theatre tickets to children and young people throughout England. Some of the key findings of the resulting report are as follows:
- 278,000 of tickets given away were to young people who said they would probably not have otherwise visited the theatre and paid for a ticket
- 72% of young people surveyed said cost was the main barrier to going to the theatre – other factors included productions on offer and distance to the venue
- 92% enjoyed the experience; 81% said they’re likely to go again; 88% said they’d pay to go again
- 41% of surveyed venues said the scheme had brought them commercial benefits.
INDUSTRY MOVEMENTS
- Marcia Ferguson has taken up the role of Artistic Director at Big West. Wil Stracke has been appointed to the position of Chair of the Board.
- Kultour has announced its new CEO is Julie Tipene-O’Toole.
- Christopher Tooher has been appointed Executive Director of Sydney Festival.
- Jerry Remkes, formerly managing director of Anouk van Dijk Dance Company, Netherlands, will begin as Dance Programmer of the Arts Centre Melbourne in July.
- SkillsHub has announced it will cease operating, after nearly 25 years, as a result of discontinued funding from the Victorian government.
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