(Links Removed)
NATIONAL STUFF
Results of TNV’s Small to Medium Arts Remuneration Survey are in!
The final report is due out later this year, but preliminary results are already available. With nearly twice the number of eligible responses than in 2009, the outcomes show a small increase in the salaries of the top two positions – but a slight drop in the professional development budgets of most positions.
Stay in touch with conversations at Australian Theatre Forum: 14–16 September
In less than two weeks the Australian Theatre Forum: Convictions + Connections 2011 kicks off at Brisbane Powerhouse, with an amazing range of speakers who will address more than 250 delegates from across the country. If you’re not attending but want to stay up-to-date with the conversations, we’ll be Tweeting and Facebook-ing our way through the three-day Forum – plus, Augusta Supple, Cameron Woodhead, Alison Croggon and Jane Howard will be blogging about all the action. The ATF website also has a list of resources you can access, as well as being all over Twitter and Facebook.
National Play Festival 2012 coming to Melbourne – submissions open
For the first time the NPF will be held in Melbourne – PlayWriting Australia has opened applications of new Australian plays for the Festival.
Closing date 3 October.
Anywhere Theatre Festival 10–19 May 2012 call-out
Want to be part of a festival where you can present your work from anywhere? Last year the inaugural Anywhere Theatre Festival had 152 performances from Brisbane to Berlin. Registration details for 2012 will be announced during the Australian Theatre Forum (Pecha Kucha, 6.45pm, 14 September).
State Exchange program applications close 16 September
This PlayWriting Australia initiative fosters creative relationships across state and territory boundaries. Successful artists are supported to create cross-country collaborations with contributions to travel and accommodation expenses.
Rodney Seaborn Playwrights Award: entries close 4 October
The Awards recognises the development of a play or other approved performing arts project. Winner receives $20,000. Entry fee $20.
National Indigenous Theatre Forum – a great success!
The 2nd National Indigenous Theatre Forum (NITF) was held in Cairns on the 20 and 21 August. The NITF is a hot house for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander theatre practitioners and industry representatives to meet, talk and dream big – but most importantly to take decisive action on strengthening Indigenous theatre and supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stories and creative expression. The forum heard about a number of outcomes of the initial forum in 2010, such as the development of a National Indigenous Touring Consortium and the establishment of an Emerging Indigenous Producers Initiative. The 2nd NITF discussed a range of issues – including a response to the National Cultural Policy that recognises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and cultures as the central platform to our national cultural identity. – John Harvey, creative producer, Brown Cab Productions
National Cultural Policy Discussion Paper – Submissions due October 21Minister Crean has announced the next stage in consultation towards a National Cultural Policy the first comprehensive cultural policy since the Keating Government’s Creative Nation. Download the paper here: culture.arts.gov.au/discussion-paper. TNV is joining with our national colleagues to support and contribute to the development of the policy, including a first meeting with Minster Crean in Canberra on 17 August, at which we discussed: ‘Mainstreaming’ the arts; the impact of technology; Artists’ career pathways; Australia’s position in the world, including the promotion of our cultural diversity, amongst other things. TNV will also be highlighting the vulnerability of the small to medium sector in our own submission and in our work with the Arts Industry Council Victoria (see below). Get in touch with us if you have something to add.
VICTORIAN STUFF
Guest editorial on independent theatre: Robert Reid | Mutation Theatre In the last three years the community has seen another emergence of small scale, independent companies producing interesting, challenging and adventurous work. Patrick McCarthy founded Mutation Theatre in 2008 and has produced six shows since then including Fluorescent Facade, Habitat, The Arrival and These are the Isolate. Patrick describes their work as “not defined by a particular aesthetic or way of working, but rather by a commitment to rigorously developed ideas and stories that carry a sense of urgency”. Mutation’s next work, So Blue, So Calm, will be performed as part of this year’s Melbourne Fringe and has already been tipped as the most likely work to change the world.
Arts Industry Council Victoria – National Cultural Policy Consultation Meeting The development of the National Cultural Policy represents a once in a generation opportunity to contribute to the future vision of the arts in Australia. Be sure your voice is heard! AICV will hold a consultation session with its members to help inform its submission to the National Cultural Policy. Time: 4–5pm (followed by drinks 5–6pm), Tuesday 11 October 2011, Arts Access, 222 Bank St, South Melbourne (downstairs from TNV!).
New arts education partnership with SEDA Next year Arena Theatre Company partners with arts development provider SEDA to run a pilot arts education project aimed at engaging young people in Years 10, 11 and 12 in industry-specific training for the performing arts. The SEDA Arts Development Program offers a professional qualification for young people wishing to pursue a career in the entertainment, performing arts and other like industries.
2011 Not For Profit Summit: Think Resources – registrations open – FREE The annual summit of the Office for the Community Sector is on 18 October at Bendigo’s Capital Theatre (free transport to Bendigo provided). It’s your chance to join the NFP community sector to explore ideas for doing things differently and find out about resources that will help your organisation continue to develop. Key speakers are Deputy Premier Peter Ryan and Australian of the Year Simon McKeon.
Event registrations for Midsumma close 19 September Got a theatre show you want to include in the 2012 Midsumma Festival?
The Dog Theatre Festival program The Dog showcases local artists including Barry Dickins, Ross Daniels, Andrea Powell, Peta Coy, Syd Brisbane, Geraldine Hickey, Chris Palframan and more. Three shows a night, four nights a week for three weeks.
Vale: Dori Dragon Bicchierai TNV was saddened to learn of the passing of Dori Dragon, a highly regarded and much loved figure in Melbourne theatre sector, who we all worked with at one time or another. Dori had worked for 20 years as a theatre lighting designer, technician and production manager, and will be dearly missed.
TNV MEMBER OFFERS
$10 industry tickets to see Tenderness (four-star review in The Age today!)Ugly by Christos Tsiolkas and Slut by Patricia Cornelius, Directed by Nadja Kostich in the new Performance Space at Footscray Community Arts Centre. Runs Wednesday 31 August to Sunday 11 September 2011, 8pm Tuesday – Saturday, 5pm Sunday.
Member giveaway: tickets to Dislocate’s Unit 4 Physically exhilarating, UNIT 4 combines acrobatics, aerials and dance to explore the themes of living and dying with dignity. Humorous, boldly demanding, moving and entertaining, Dislocate are swinging into the Reginald Theatre 28 September – 15 October. For bookings and more information on Unit 4 visit www.thereginald.com or call 02 9351 7940. The Seymour Centre is giving two TNV members double passes to Unit 4 on Wednesday 28 September @ 8pm. The first two people to email (Email Removed) before 1pm Tuesday 6 September, with “Dislocate Giveaway” in the subject heading, win! (Only winners notified).