TNV STUFF

TNV is seeking feedback on Australia Council’s strategic plan and funding programs. AusCo’s new strategic plan “reflects an ambitious vision for the arts in Australia” and is comprised of four goals: Australian arts are without borders; Australia is known for its great art and artists; The arts enrich daily life for all; and Australians cherish Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts and culture. The new grant programs are: Fellowships ($100k); Development Grants for Individuals and Groups ($5k to $25k); Arts Projects for Individuals and Groups ($10k to $50k); Arts Projects for Organisations ($10k to $150k); and Six-Year Funding for Organisations. These are on top of other government programs that AusCo delivers, including the Regional Performing Arts Touring Fund.

TNV spoke to the ABC about our initial response. The Australia Council is still working on details, and is running information sessions around the country. There is also a lot of detail on the website, about eligibility, criteria, etc. Take time to read through it all!

We would like to hear from you – what is good about the changes, what are your concerns etc. Please fill in this super quick survey so that we can continue to feed the sector’s responses back to the Australia Council.

250 Independent Artists and Producers have applied to attend ATF 2015 We are thrilled that there is such a high level of interest in the Australian Theatre Forum to be held 20 – 23 January 2015 at the Seymour Centre, Sydney. Local peer panels are now assessing the applications and will choose 100 people from across the country. Announcements will be made by the end of September. Registrations for companies will also open late September. More info.

2014 Victorian Theatre Forum: ‘Power Play’ – Wrap Up A big thank you to our financial members, facilitators and special guests who attended the Victorian Theatre Forum at MTC last week. It was great to see everyone engaging with each other and the topics being explored on the day. We received some fantastic feedback and are looking forward to the next one! Read Richard Watts’Arts Hub article here.

NATIONAL STUFF

8 Sep – Cyberpaddock National Touring Online Round Producers are invited to submit their productions for an online only Cyberpaddock National Touring Round, geared towards building tours for 2016 and beyond. This round will coincide with the December funding round for Australia Council’s Playing Australia grants. Submissions close Mon 8 Sep 2014. Read more about Cyberpaddock here.

26 Sep – The Lesley Hall Arts and Disability Scholarship – NOW OPEN The Lesley Hall Arts and Disability Scholarship is an annual scholarship offered by Arts Access Victoria (AAV) that recognises the power of the arts to influence social change. It honours the life and activism of the late Lesley Hall. Applications close Friday 26 September. To find out more about the scholarship please read the FAQ or contact AAV at info@artsaccess.com.au

1 Oct – Country Arts Support Program (CASP) applications due for 2015 projects CASP aims to support community cultural development in regional and rural New South Wales through small grants for projects taking place between 1 Jan 2015 – 31 December 2015. For more info or to discuss your project ideas, contact Arts North West on 02 6732 4988 or email office@artsnw.com.au An application pack is available from the Regional Arts NSW website.

4 Dec – Anywhere Festivals in 3 states – Calling Performers and ProducersPerformers of any genre or performance style can now express interest to perform anywhere but a theatre in the Brisbane, Frankston, Mackay-Isaac and Parramatta Anywhere Festivals in 2015. Apply once to perform in up to four fringe festivals throughout Australia. EOI’s close on 4 December. Find out more here.http://anywherefest.com/eoi%20%3Chttp://anywherefest.us2.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=3fd6d3807e6736596d303f80c&id=1be354e489&e=5d5bb191c9%3E

VICTORIAN STUFF

2014/15 – Black Hole Theatre – ‘Fermenting Change’ PD Program from $125 In collaboration with Puppet Animation, Edinburgh and Melbourne Polytechnic, Black Hole Theatre is bringing nationally and internationally renowned artists together with emerging performance makers to generate ideas, exchange skills, and make new work. Open to all performers, the first lab kicks off Sep 13-14, followed by Oct 9-12. Find out more here.

Sep/Oct – Performance Masterclass: The Gospel of Othello with Patrice Naiambana Patrice Naiambana (Royal Shakespeare Company, Tribal Soul) will facilitate a 5-day masterclass to develop and stage your own version of Othello. Masterclass One: 22-26 Sep, 9.30am-5pm FCAC Basement Theatre. Masterclass Two: 29 Sep – 3 Oct, 9.30am-5pm Institute of Postcolonial Studies. Cost: $495.00. Places are limited. Details and bookings here.

30 Sep – 2014 Melbourne Festival Local Artist Card: Applications now openLocal art practitioners can apply for the Melbourne Festival ‘Local Artist Card’ which invites you to engage closely with the Festival. Card holders can attend shows at discounted rates, attend forums and receive invites to workshops while interacting (read partying!) with Festival staff and visiting artists. Applications close Tuesday 30 September, 5pm. Apply here.

24 Sep – Free Public Panel – Committing Thought, Taking Action: art, justice, and resistance A panel of artists share stories about a time they have “committed thought”: an action they took when provoked by a sense of personal responsibility, and the consequences that ensued. Speakers include Patrice Naiambana, Max Gillies AM, Tariro Mavondo and John Romeril. 7.30pm Wed 24 Sept, Institute of Postcolonial Studies, 78 Curzon St North Melbourne.More info.

11 & 12 Oct – Circus Futures Forum at Melbourne Festival – & Free Public Session Presented by ACAPTA in collaboration with Melbourne Festival and Circus Oz, this two-day conference features international guest speakers. On Sunday 12 October, there will be a free public forum at ANZ Pavilion from 3.45pm – 5pm. No registration required for the Free Forum. Registrations and fees for the full forum program can be found on the ACAPTA website.

7 Oct – Free Public Forum: Performing Social Justice Theatre and performance makers are invited to participate in a Theatre of the Oppressed forum. Working with Augusto Boal’s techniques, Shahin Shafaei will lead the group in exploring the challenges we face in creating performance around social justice and change. 6.30-9.30pm Tuesday 7 October at the Institute of Postcolonial Studies, North Melbourne. Book here.

19 Sep – Punctum announces 2015 ‘Seedpod Amplified’ Residencies – EOIs now open Seedpod Amplified is a 6 to 8 week residency program that gives experienced artists practicing in the realms of live arts some serious support, funds (up to $13,000) and great national presentation opportunities for new work. EOIs are due on Friday 19th September 2014. Read more here.

29 October – 2014 Victorian Touring Workshop – Save the date The Victorian Touring Workshop provides support and inspiration to performing arts practitioners looking at touring pathways and opportunities in the forthcoming year. Co-hosted by TNV, Regional Arts Victoria and The Victorian Association of Performing Arts Centres, this year’s workshop will take place on Wednesday 29 October at The Clocktower Centre, Moonee Ponds. (Please note the change of date). Click here for more information.

10 Sep – Triage and Arts House – Live Art Camp – EOIs now open Triage and Arts House are now calling for Expressions of Interest (EOIs) for 35 artists to participate in the inaugural Live Art Camp – a free professional development opportunity for Australian live art performance makers. The Live Art Camp is the incubator of a larger two-year project to take place in Australia and Europe (2014-16). EOIs close midnight Wednesday 10 September. More info.

Arts Industry Council (Vic) – 2014 State Election – Political Parties’ Arts Priorities In the lead up to the Victorian State Election, the Arts Industry Council (Vic) sought views from interested political parties about the concerns, needs and aspirations of the Victorian arts and cultural sector. They posed nine questions distilled from consultation with members over the first half of 2014.Read the responses from the Napthine Govt, Victorian Labor, Greens and Sex Party.

Resource – ArtsAtlas website – South Coast and Central Highlands The ArtsAtlas aims to connect local artists and organisations, create opportunities, and provide a platform for the sharing of information. This website initiative is a source for what is happening in the arts in the region as well as a central hub for artists to connect, interact and collaborate with each other. Check it out here.

INTERNATIONAL STUFF

CALL OUT – Arts House calls for contributions to The People’s Weather Report Arts House is seeking 300 ‘weather reporters’ from around the world to reflect on their individual connection to weather and the climate. This participatory audio project will explore responses to climate change and will be broadcast online, on radio, and culminate in a sculptural installation at sustainability festival ‘Going Nowhere’ in November. More info.

30 Sep – Perf Arts Residency: Australia House Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale, Japan 2015 Asialink’s Arts Residency Program has provided development opportunities for arts professionals in exchange for the sharing of skills, knowledge and networks with local host communities. This residency model seeks applications from passionate performing artists who are open to engaging with the local community as true collaborators, not just spectators. Applications close 5pm EST Tuesday 30 September. Read more here.

17 Sep – International Performing Arts Markets (IPAMS) – Travel Fund Canada Delegation This travel grant will support a group of three Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander independent producers, managers and artists to travel to Canada in November 2014 for the Native Earth Performing Arts’ Weesageechak Festival, Toronto (12-16 Nov) and CINARS, Montreal, (17-22 Nov). Funding is limited to three people with support available of $4,500 per person. Rachael Maza and Collette Brennan will lead the delegation. Applications close Wednesday 17 September. More info.

INDUSTRY MOVEMENTS

• Patrick Nolan steps down from his role of Artistic Director of Legs on the Wall.
• Kate Champion has announced her resignation as AD and CEO of Force Majeure.
• Iain Sinclair has been appointed as new Associate Artist for Playwriting Australia.
• Simon Abrahams will step down as Head of Programming at the Wheeler Centre to commence a new role as their Creative Producer for 2015.
• Karen Rodgers has been appointed to the role of Griffin’s General Manager and will step down as Producer/Programmer at Seymour Centre.
• Sandra Bates has announced her retirement for the end of 2015 as the Governing and Artistic Director of Ensemble Theatre after 30 years.
• David Ryding has been announced as the inaugural Director for Melbourne’s UNESCO City of Literature based at The Wheeler Centre.
• Bronwyn Edinger takes up a 12 month contract as Executive Director of Australian Performing Arts Centres Association.

POSITIONS VACANT

• Head of Programming, The Wheeler Centre. Applications close 8 September.
• Education Manager, Monkey Baa Theatre Company. Applications close midnight 8 September.
• Exhibition Project Coordinator, Powerhouse Museum, Sydney. Applications close 8 September.
• Executive Producer, Adelaide Cabaret Festival. Applications close 10 September.
• Theatre Festival Producer, Drama Victoria. Applications close midday 10 September.
• Executive Producer, SITUATE Art in Festivals. Applications close 12 September.
• Development Manager, La Boite Theatre Company. Applications close 12 September.
• Blak Lines Producer, Performing Lines. Applications close 16 September.
• Arts Administrator, Australian National Capital Artists. Applicatons close 16 September.
• Helpmann Awards Manager, Live Performance Australia. Applications close 19 September.
• Company Administrator, Malthouse Theatre. Applications close 19 September.
• Female Ensemble Member, Back to Back Theatre. Applications close 30 September.
• Artistic Director/CEO, Force Majeure. Applications close 31 October.

Compiled by Bethany Simons for Theatre Network Victoria.