TNV STUFF
ATF 2015: Made It! We’re back in the office after a hugely successful Australian Theatre Forum in Sydney last month. Thanks to everybody for your feedback and encouragement. We loved the opportunity to connect and share ideas in one place! Read the special ATF Stuff segment below for those who didn’t attend. Big thanks to the amazing Simon Wellington and David Williams and theATF Team!
TNV Membership – Join the Theatre Network today! Financial membership is now due. We love what we do here at TNV, and your support allows us to continue connecting, representing and advocating for the sector. If you’re not yet a member of TNV, take a moment to view the fees and benefits here. Membership starts from as little as $19 for individuals and includes an Associate Membership option for non-Victorians and non-producers. Thanks to all those who have already renewed for 2015. Please note that 2014 memberships will lapse on Friday 27 February.
Australian Theatre Forum STUFF
To keep the conversations going, over the coming months our eNews will look at specific ideas and outcomes from ATF2015: Making It.
The Stats Over 3 and a half days, and 62 events, nearly 400 people attended ATF: 320 registered delegates, and 68 speakers and guests. The smaller states and territories were all over-represented proportionately, and we made a big effort to increase diversity in all its forms, with 38 people under 30 y/o, 14 over 60 y/o, 27 Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, 53 culturally and linguistically diverse, and a special Deaf Access program with 3 Deaf delegates and 4 Auslan interpreters. In line with theatre people’s idiosyncracies, 80 of us had special food preferences!
ATF Documentation – Transcripts and Videos Once again, we partnered with the fabulous AustralianPlays.org to document the forum. The first of our video recordings is now up on the ATF website: Keynote – Rachael Maza, Wed 21 Jan.
The ATF 2015 program was bookended by keynote addresses from our international guests, Goenawan Mohamad (Indonesia) and Frie Leysen (Belgium). Full transcripts are now online:
“A playwright…does not speak, but listens to, his audience.” – Goenawan Mohamad, Seymour Centre, 20 Jan 2015.
“We must urgently find our artistic language and artistic arguments again.” – Frie Leysen, Sydney Opera House, 23 Jan 2015.
Keeping Theatre Makers Safe A breakout session that sparked a lot of conversation during the forum was the ‘Making It Healthy’ session which focused on research around artists’ health and wellbeing. Find out more about the Australian Society for Performing Arts Healthcare – co-founded by guest speaker, Mark Seton. Read the Arts Hub wrap up.
Media Coverage For all the latest coverage from ATF 2015, visit the Media page of the ATF website. Find out what our delegates were saying throughout the forum by following @ATFtheatreforum on Twitter, and tag yourself in theATF2015 album on Facebook.
NATIONAL STUFF
Historic Announcement – APACA to host National Performing Arts Touring Market 2015. PATA announced yesterday that the 2015 APACA conference, Mobilise (Carriageworks, Sydney, August 17 – 20) will include the Performing Arts Exchange, a national touring market that replaces Long Paddock. Expressions of Interest from artists and companies wishing to pitch or showcase work will be sought soon. State showcases will also be held in WA, Vic, SA and Qld, see below. Read the PATA Announcement here.
15 Feb – New Funding Program for Independents – Sidney Myer Fund – Up to $50k. The new Capacity Building and Strengthening Program will provide grants of up to $50,000 over two years for independent collectives and organisations that cannot yet secure private or government support. Applications are currently open to Victorian and Tasmanian independents only and will close on 15 February. About the program | Eligibility and Selection Criteria
11 Apr – ClimArte announces new festival: Art + Climate = Change 2015.ClimArte’s new festival of climate change related arts and ideas, will run from 11 April – 17 May 2015 in Melbourne. ‘Art + Climate = Change’ will include over 20 curated exhibitions and a series of keynote lectures and public forums featuring local and international guests. About the festival.
Theatre Network NSW (TNN) Director Announced. Jane Kreis has been announced as the inaugural director of TNN, the recently established support, networking and advocacy organisation dedicated to the NSW theatre sector. Jane comes to the Network fresh from 5 years as Executive Officer and Regional Arts Development Officer of Arts North West. Find out more.
Save the Date – State-based National Showcase Opportunities.
- The Queensland Touring Showcase will be held at the Mackay Entertainment and Convention Centre on March 16 & 17. More info here
- Showcase Victoria will be held at the Hawthorn Arts Centre on May 12 & 13. More info here
- WA Showcase 2015 – Playing the State will be held on 14 & 15 May at the Mandurah Performing Arts Centre, WA. Applications close Friday 1 May. Email ryan@koorliny.com.au for info.
- The South Australian Presenters Association’s 2015 showcase will be held on Tuesday 30 June at the Jade Monkey, Flinders Street, Adelaide. Email David.Barrett@marion.sa.gov.au for info.
VICTORIAN STUFF
9 Feb – Funding Info Session for Writers – AusCo & Creative Victoria.(formerly Arts Vic) Hosted by Writers Victoria, this information session will outline funding opportunities for writers. Monday 9 February 6.30pm, The Wheeler Centre, Melbourne.Ticktets are free for members of Writers Victoria, $15 for non-members. More information
10 Feb – Arts House – The Supper Club: Big Talk, Little Talk – ATF2015 Debrief. The Supper Club is Curated by Bek Berger through her Australia Council Early Career Residency. Next week, join David Williams, ATF 2015 Curator, and Emma Valente, Artistic Director of The Rabble, as they debrief and rethink the Australian Theatre Forum. Tues 10 Feb, 7 – 10pm. All tickets $15, includes supper. Arts House, North Melbourne. Book here | More info
22 Feb – Women’s Circus: Puppetry Workshop and Open Talk. Led by acclaimed puppeteer Keira Lyons, this introductory workshop is about the poetry and playfulness of puppetry. Sun 22 Feb, 1pm – 4pm $65 general, $55 members. Open Talk from 4.15pm – 5pm. Women’s Circus, The Drill Hall, Footscray. More information
Call for Responders – Black Hole Theatre feedback sessions in Feb & March – FREE. In February and March Black Hole Theatre is offering Your Work in Focus – free feedback sessions offering an inspiring, dynamic and non-judgmental approach to developing work. Responders are required to attend sessions, watch the work and contribute feedback. Dates: Fri 6 Feb & Sat 7 March at Napier Street Theatre, South Melb. Find out more
Arts Victoria transitions to Creative Victoria. Creative Victoria is now the State Government body for supporting, championing and growing the arts and creative industries. Formerly Arts Victoria, Creative Victoria will continue to bring together Victoria’s strengths across arts, culture, screen and design.www.creative.vic.gov.au
Green Room Awards Association is seeking Expressions of Interest for new panel judges. Melbourne’s premier peer judged awards for performances on the Melbourne stage, the Green Room Awards, is seeking EOIs from industry colleagues to join a peer panel: Cabaret, Contemporary & Experimental Performance, Dance, Independent Theatre, Music Theatre, Opera and Theatre Companies. TNV designed the EOI survey, which asks for a 150 word biog and names of two referees. No deadline – EOIs will be accepted throughout the year. Access the survey
INTERNATIONAL STUFF
14 Feb – Applications to Participate in Kestenburg Student Theatre Festival close. KESTENBURG, a Festival of International Student Theatre, is inviting students and professors from international art academies to participate in their festival program which runs from 31 July-9 August 2015 in Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina. More info
17 Feb – ‘The Value of Culture’ – Live stream of Panel Discussion from Belgium – Free. Flanders Arts Institute, IETM and deBuren are hosting a panel discussion around the place of arts and culture within society. Fueled by an investigative report, ‘The Value of Culture’, the presentation and debate will feature researchers and policymakers from all over Europe and will be streamed live on Tuesday 17 February, 3pm – 5pm (GMT+1). Find out more here.
19 Feb – Managing the Arts: Marketing for Cultural Organisations – Free online course. Learn about challenges for cultural managers around the world, acquire marketing and management skills and gain direct insights into four arts organizations. Share your ideas with an international learning community and obtain a university certificate. This free online course is being presented by theGoethe Institute and will run from 19 February – 28 May. Read about the course.
23-26 Apr – IETM Spring Plenary in Italy. At the heart of this diverse platform of interaction and exchange, will be the concept of ‘Regeneration’ – what can we learn from forgotten structures, practices and ideas? Join an international community of performing arts professionals for the IETM Spring Plenary in the upper town of Bergamo, Italy. 23 – 26 April 2015. More info
Paying Artists Campaign. In response to the 2014 Paying Artists campaign in the UK, The Guardian has released an article stating that the low income and status of artists is an international issue. Read the article | Join the #payingartists conversation | Find out more about the Paying Artists campaign.
Increasing Collaboration – Theatre for Young People in Europe. Creative Producer and Arts Consultant Simon Abrahams was recently commissioned by the Australia Council for the Arts to undertake a research trip to Belgium, Austria, Germany and the Netherlands to investigate opportunities for exchange and collaboration for artists working in the Australian theatre for young people sector. Download the free resource here.
INDUSTRY MOVEMENTS
- Brad Spolding steps down as Executive Producer of ILBIJERRI in order to take on the role of Director of The Substation.
- Marion Potts will leave Malthouse Theatre to commence as Director of Theatre at Australia Council for the Arts, and the company’s Associate Artist (Directing) Matthew Lutton will step into the role of Acting Artistic Director.
- Jonathan Holloway finishes up at Perth International Arts Festival and will take the reigns as Artistic Director of Melbourne Festival for 2016.
- Footscray Community Arts Centre welcomes Chris Kohn as Executive Producer and Tija Lodins as General Manager.
- Maz McGann steps down as CEO of Creating Australia.
- Danielle Micich announced as the incoming Artistic Director for Force Majeure.
- Teena Munn announced as Executive Director of Australian Dance Theatre, previously General Manager and Producer of Windmill Theatre.
- Amelia Bartak returns to Phillip Adams Balletlab in the role of Executive Producer.
- Leland Kean departs Tamarama Rock Surfers to join Merrigong Theatre Company as Artistic Development Manager.
- Melbourne Theatre Company welcomes ten new artists to the 2015 Women Directors Program: Katy Alexander, Rachel Baring, Justine Campbell, Felix Ching Ching Ho, Tanya Dickson, Catarina Hebbard, Kat Henry, Samara Hersch, Tamara Searle and Hallie Shellam.
POSITIONS VACANT
- Executive Producer, Ilbijerri Theatre Company. Apps close 13 Feb.
- General Manager, Arts House. Apps close 15 Feb.
- Venue Manager, Meat Market. Apps close 15 Feb.
- Assistant Company Manager, Les Misérables. Apps close 13 Feb.
- Digital Specialist, Bell Shakespeare Company. Apps close 16 Feb.
- Venue Manager, Theatre Works. Apps close 9 Feb.
- Digital Marketing Coordinator, Sydney Theatre Company. Apps close 16 Feb.
- Program Coordinator – Access, Riverside Theatres. Apps close 23 Feb.
- Indigenous Associate Producer, Black Arm Band. Apps close 23 Feb.
- Venue & Sales Manager, NIDA. Apps close 11 Feb.
- Marketing & Communications Manager, Barking Gecko Theatre. Apps close 16 Feb.
- Operations Coordinator – Touring & Outreach, Opera Australia. Apps close 20 Feb.
- Artistic Director, Adelaide Festival. Apps close 20 Feb.
- Marketing & Publicity Manager, Regional Arts Victoria. Apps close 10 Feb.
- General Manager, PACT Centre for Emerging Artists. Apps close 20 Feb.
- Marketing Coordinator, Arts on Tour. Apps close 18 Feb.
Compiled by Bethany Simons.
Stay in the loop: Subscribe to TNV’s monthly eNews.