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TNV STUFF

Theatre Network Victoria – Annual Funding for 2011! We are pleased to announce that Theatre Network Victoria was successful in securing Annual Operations Funding for 2011 from Arts Victoria. This means that we can continue to support and advocate for the small to medium performing arts sector in Victoria, including engaging in the national theatre sector.

Victorian Theatre Meeting – Report now available to download. TNV’s first meeting for the sector in Victoria was held at Melbourne Theatre Company on 16th September 2010, with just over 100 delegates from across the industry. It was a lively and engaging meeting, and the curated ‘pitch’ program, of issues relevant to the whole sector, resulted in eight top issues, voted on by the delegates: (alphabetical by author)

1. Affiliated Artistic Directors for Regionally based Performing Arts Centres – Jude Anderson, Punctum.
2. Women Directors in key creative positions in the professional sector – Lucy Freeman, Straightjacket Productions & Australian Women Directors Alliance.
3. What is a Producer? – Neal Harvey, Elbow Room.
4. Diversity and Age Discrimination – Chris Kohn, Arena Theatre Company.
5. Cultural Change for Theatre – Polash Larsen, Diverse Australian Theatre Alliance.
6. Regional and National touring – supporting higher risk and diversity on the road. Jill Smith, Geelong Performing Arts Centre.
7. Longer, Deeper, Slower….a ten year vision. What will we do to become environmentally sustainable in the next decade? – Angharad Wynne-Jones, Independent.
8. Light, Flexible Infrastructure – David Young, Chamber Made Opera.

The full report is available at https://www.tna.org.au/resources It will be distributed widely, as an articulation of our sector’s ideas and aspirations and as a source of rich material for policy development. In addition, TNV will incorporate aspects of the report into our program for next year.

Australian Theatre Forum – Curatorial Brief set The ATF Steering Committee met in Brisbane for two days of passionate discussion, resulting in a snappy curatorial brief for the second forum, to be held in Brisbane 19-22 September, 2010, during the Brisbane Festival. The Forum will be hosted by Brisbane Powerhouse. The Committee is now in the process of appointing a Curator.

NATIONAL STUFF

APAM study commissioned by the Australia Council – Your views sought.The Australia Council for the Arts has commissioned a scoping study of the Australian Performing Arts Market (APAM) from the Anzarts Institute headed by widely respected arts and cultural policy specialist, Justin Macdonnell. Fenn Gordon, Director of Market Development for the Australia Council, says the scoping study will form the basis to explore forward options following the 2012 Australian Performing Arts Market. ‘We’re eager to hear the views of the sector and apply those opinions to future direction.’

The first official South Australian Theatre / Performance Forum: Independent Performance Makers kicks off on 19, 20 and 21 November. Carclew Youth Arts Led by Arts Producer Angharad Wynne-Jones using an Open Space facilitation process. Following the success of the 2009 Australian Theatre Forum and in collaboration with Carclew Youth Arts, Country Arts SA, Arts Industry Council of SA, and Arts SA we are creating a space and an opportunity where we as a sector can get together. In September 2011 Brisbane will host the next Australian Theatre Forum and this S.A. opportunity will feed into the 2011 event.

New Alliance promoting increased cultural diversity in Theatre. The Diverse Australian Theatre Alliance (DATA) is an alliance of theatre artists and scholars committed to ensuring that theatre is representative of the culturally diverse reality of Australia. The Mission Statement can be accessed online at: (link removed).

Did you know …that there is now a Sydney Fringe Festival? A report by Justin MacDonnell, commissioned by The Newtown Entertainment Precinct Association, proposed that an annual Sydney Fringe would be well supported. The first Sydney Fringe ran from 10 – 26 September 2010. It is a curated Festival, but they accept entries from anywhere. The submission deadline is 5 months prior to the festival.

Indigenous Technical Theatre Production and Design Internship – E.O.I. Due 8 Nov In 2011, Urban Theatre Projects and Belvoir will jointly provide a 9-month professional development program to one emerging Indigenous practitioner, supported by Arts NSW. The program will be designed in collaboration with the successful candidate to meet their specific skills, development requirements and interests. The successful candidate will work across both Belvoir and Urban Theatre Project’s programs, gaining experience in a range of contexts, from creative development to touring, working with diverse creative teams and guest artists. Expressions of Interest are due by 5pm Mon 8 Nov.

ACAPTA – Flashpoint Forum “The world needs saving and circus and physical theatre are the answer”. Sydney Nov 10-13. The Flashpoint Forum theme is deliberately bold, daring and audacious! And some say it’s true … the world does need saving! Imagine the possibilities if our art form could help to find solutions to the BIG problems of our

VICTORIAN STUFF

Theatre Network Victoria joins the AIC(V) and other Victorian arts bodies calling for increased support to independent individual and small arts organisations. Early in 2010, TNV, in collaboration with the Arts Industry Council (Vic), convened a meeting of 11 arts advocacy organisations representing various sectors. This group has formed an informal Vic ArtsPeak, supported by the AIC(V). At the AIC’s conference on 28 September, the important role of the small/medium sector in the overall arts ecology was recognised. Minister Peter Batchelor, Leader of the Opposition Ted Baillieu and Sue Pennicuik of the Australian Greens each spoke to their respective arts platforms while Marcus Westbury, Ben Eltham, Magdalena Moreno and Jon Hawkes took part in a dynamic panel discussion on the future of the arts in Victoria.

Professional pathways for new works – FREE workshop in Castlemaine – Thurs 11 Nov, 11am to 3pm, lunch included. Presented by VAPAC and TNV, lunch included. This workshop is the final in a series of workshops aimed at independent performing arts practitioners. The first three were very popular – get in early for this one. It includes: an intro to VAPAC and TNV; touring and partnerships; an intro to funding opportunities for touring – Showcase and RAV; and professional pathways for new works to get access to the VAPAC network.

AMAG’s – PLAN VAN Regional Touring Workshops – Gippsland. Nov 10, 11 & 12. These are workshops will be held in Mallacoota, Orbost, Bairnsdale and Lakes Entrance. They have been designed to cover aspects planning and producing community arts events, festival and projects in the local community.

The Village Festival – 4 – 7 November, Edinburgh Gardens, Fitzroy After a year off, The Village Festival of new performing art is back with a vengeance. Four days of performances, workshops, exhibitions and craft. Come and mend socks, have a glass of wine, listen to some hot bands, and watch some amazing shows, all in the gorgeous surrounds of lovely hand made venues. Prices range from $2 to $12.50. This is an artist-run event.

Auspicious Arts Incubator Presenters and Pitching Day (this Thursday 28 Oct!) Here’s YOUR OPPORTUNITY for one day to network with your peers, meet potential partners plus an additional 3 hours of ‘pitching’ training. The Panel includes Andrew Kay (one of Australia’s leading commercial producers), Rob Gebert (the Arts Centre), Colin Coster (Ensemble Partnership), Jennifer Barry (Footscray Community Arts Centre), Kate Shearer (BIG WEST Festival), Suzanne Snooks (City of Kingston), Roslyn Walker (Film Producer).

Victorian Youth Arts Market, presented by YPAA – Fri 12 to Tues 16 November. Various venues around Melbourne. FREE The Youth Arts Market (YAM) is an event model that consists of live showcase of presentations and performances by organisations and practitioners, in addition to professional development and networking.

New Look Theatre Alive website – www.theatrealive.com.au Melbourne’s independent theatre scene is the largest and most active in the country and it can be hard to navigate. For five years, those in the know have found their way around using Theatre Alive, and now after a major upgrade of the website, the secret is out. The brand spanking new and improved website offers some great fabulous goodies including more image and video uploading capabilities, social media sharing functions, a Watchlist, (so you can save your favourite shows for future reference), and even a mobile friendly version of the site.

INTERNATIONAL STUFF

New projects through IETM-Australia Council for the Arts Collaboration. As a part of the collaboration between the Australia Council for the Arts and IETM, the international network for contemporary performing arts, a program of activities has been developed by Project Director, David Pledger. It will foster artistic partnerships between Australia and Europe in 2010-2011. Artists and organisations from both regions will collaborate through artist-residency programs, producer placements, a one-off commission, workshops and a special ‘green’ project.