TNA STUFF

TNA Membership is now open – Join us in 2017
As a TNA member you support our core work: advocating for fair and robust cultural policy, and strengthening and connecting the Australian performing arts sector through events, research and knowledge sharing. We offer the following membership categories: Individual, Full (for metropolitan-based Victorian organisations) and Associate (for regional Victorian and interstate organisations). NSW members will receive a further ‘bundling’ discount when signing up with TNN as well. Renew your membership here | View the current member listing.

Australian Theatre Forum – Producer Announced and Sector Input
Independent Creative Producer Jennifer Greer Holmes has been announced as the ATF 2017 Producer (joining co-curators Alexis West and Steve Mayhew). TNA is still seeking sector input for the ATF program (3-5 October, Adelaide). Submit your ideas here.

Playbox Series by AustralianPlays.org: Hotel Sorrento by Hannie Rayson. 
Australian Plays is giving TNA subscribers access to the ‘All Australian’ Playbox Collection. Each month, one play will be made available to read, free of charge – a great way to brush up on the rich Australian theatre repertoire. This month features Hotel Sorrento by Hannie Rayson. Happy play reading!

NATIONAL STUFF

31 Dec – The New Plot: New Australian Playwriting Award launched
Sydney’s 107 Projects and Actors Centre Australia (ACA) have launched The New Plot, a national playwriting award with a $10,000 cash prize designed to foster professional development for writers and actors, and to bring new Australian stories to the stage. Australian playwrights are invited to submit a 25-30 minute manuscript before 31 December 2016. More info.

9 Jan –  Arts Centre Melbourne and Melbourne Fringe – Australian Artist Opportunity.
Take Over! will support an independent artist, company or collective to develop a creative idea to be presented in the 2017 Melbourne Fringe Festival in the Fairfax Studio.  Artists will have access to $30,000 of seed funding to develop their work in residency, as well as rehearsal space and support in producing, marketing and fundraising, plus ACM will pay for the presentation of the work in the Fairfax in September. Closes 9 Jan. 

5 Feb – Myer, Tim Fairfax Family, and Keir Foundations: New Approach for the Cultural Sector
The Myer Foundation, the Tim Fairfax Family Foundation and the Keir Foundation are seeking expressions of interest from applicants capable of delivering a program to meet Australia’s need for an informed, independent voice championing investment and return in arts and culture. To read about the Project Objectives and EOI process, click here. EOIs close Sunday 5 February 2017.

6 Feb – Creative Partnerships Awards 2017: Nominate an Arts Champion
Know someone who champions the arts and drives enduring partnerships between the arts and private sector? CPA has four award categories to be presented at their awards ceremony in 2017: The Arts Leadership Award, Business Leadership Award, Emerging Philanthropy Leadership Award and Philanthropy Leadership Award. Nominations close 6 Feb 2017. More info.

SumOfUs – Call out for theatre / improv ensemble
SumOfUs, a global consumer group dedicated to holding leading world corporations to account, is looking to contract an existing theatre or improv group in Victoria or Sydney to stage political performances and creative media stunts that draw attention to campaigns on issues like tax avoidance, workers rights’ and climate change. Contract will be on a by performance basis. For more information or to apply, please email claire@sumofus.org

20 Feb – NSW Young Regional Artist Scholarship – $10,000
Do you know a young regional artist or cultural worker? The NSW State Government is offering 15 professional development scholarships to artists and performers from all art forms, including dance, theatre, Aboriginal arts, literature, music and more. Scholarships are worth $10,000 and include a professional development networking program which takes place in Sydney in late 2017. Applications are now open and will close 20 February 2017. More info here.

Paxinos and Habash Arts Tax – New company offering advice for artists and companies
Run by John Paxinos and Shadi Habash, PHtax is based in Southbank, Melbourne. In addition to offering Tax related services, they will issue a monthly e-newsletter providing concise tax and other arts related advice. There will also be space in the newsletter to advertise shows and events. Click here to receive the newsletter. To advertise a show in the newsletter, email info@phtax.com.au

31 Jan – Carnival of Flowers: Playwriting Competition
Aspiring and experienced Australian playwrights are invited to submit unpublished and unperformed play scripts to the annual Carnival of Flowers Toowoomba Repertory Theatre Play Writing Competition. The two winning plays will be workshopped over a weekend in June and will enjoy a performance season during the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers in September 2017. Submissions close 31 January 2017. More info here.

Performing Arts Organisations less financially healthy than other artforms
A recent survey by accounting firm Generate that measured the assets, liabilities, and cash in the bank of 263 small-to-medium arts organisations (applicants to Creative Victoria or Arts NSW), showed that less than 20% of performing arts organisations are financially healthy, compared to 43% of visual arts organisations. Nearly a third of performing arts organisations (32%) are rated as having financial concerns. 

VICTORIAN STUFF

14 Dec – Indigenous Professional Development Program applications close
Funding is now available for requests between $500 and $2,500 as part of Creative Victoria’s Indigenous Professional Development Program. Applications close at 5pm on Wednesday 14 December. More info.

23 Feb – Creative Victoria: VicArts Grants and Annual Report
Save the date: The next round of applications for Vic Arts Grants opens on Thursday 2 February 2017 and will close at 5pm on Thursday 23 February 2017. Click here to read the Creative Agencies’ Annual Report.

YIRRAMBOI Festival – Website and Artist CALL OUT
The YIRRAMBOI First Nations Arts Festival website is now live.  Check out some early program announcements, opportunities, and sign up to the e-news. Held in Melbourne in May 2017, YIRRAMBOI seeks expressions of interest from artists, collectives and community groups who want to present creative performances on the city streets during Barring Yanabul, on the final Festival weekend.

9 Mar – VAPAC Marketing Workshop: Save the Date
Victorian Association of Performing Arts Centres (VAPAC) will present a full day workshop for Presenters and Producers with Marketing guru, Richard Fitzgerald, on Thursday 9th March at Darebin Arts & Entertainment Centre 10am – 4pm. This is a great opportunity to build your skills in marketing shows on tour. Tickets: $95 for Presenters and $55 for Producers (Artists/Performers/Creators). Bookings are essential.

INTERNATIONAL STUFF

16 Jan – Call for applications: 2017 Creative Climate Leadership training
This five-day intensive course will run from 27 – 31 March 2017 in Wales and will be facilitated by Julie’s Bicycle, a UK charity. The course will enable artists and cultural professionals to explore the cultural dimensions of climate change. There are five free places and travel grants available for freelance (self-employed) applicants. Application deadline is Monday 16th January 2017. More info.

IETM Bucharest Plenary Meeting 2017
IETM’s 2017 Plenary Meeting will run from 20 – 23 April 2017 in Bucharest, Romania. This plenary focuses on art as a driver of social change and will search for new ways to cooperate and imagine a fair status for the artist. Applications will open soon. Read more here.

YPAA & ASSITEJ STUFF

• TNA now has a specific list for people who wish to be registered as working in this sector. Anyone on this list will automatically be part of ASSITEJ Australia and therefore part of the International ASSITEJ organisation. Tick the ‘Opt In’ box when you join TNA as a member.
• ASSITEJ Australia rep Sue Giles is keen to form a delegation to attend the ASSITEJ Congress and Festival Cradle of Creativity in Capetown South Africa in May 2017. Email Sue Giles with your interest.
• In January 2017 many Australian companies will be going to IPAY (International Performing Arts for Youth) in Madison Wisconsin: Black Hole, Slingsby, Polyglot, Terrapin, ATYP, Barking Gecko, Circa, CDP, Patch, Performing Lines, Dave Brown and Paper Boats, Shaun Parker and Windmill.
• Congratulations to Jessica Wilson who was chosen as the Australian rep to attend the ASSITEJ Germany – International Directors Seminar. Big thanks to the many other excellent applicants and to the assessment panel.

INDUSTRY GOSS

• Jodi Glass will be leaving Slingsby as Executive Producer, to take up the position of Executive Director/Producer of State Theatre Company South Australia replacing Rob Brookman AM who has held the position since 2012.
• The recipients of the annual Australia Council fellowship grants (each worth $80,000 across two years) are: producer and facilitator Bec Reid, dancer and choreographer Brooke Stamp, diver and artist Sarah Jane Pell, author Julia Leigh, saxophonist and composer Sandy Evans, theatre director Katerina Kokkinos-Kennedy and visual artist Danie Mellor.
• Christine Johnstone has been announced as the new Executive Director of Expressions Dance Company (EDC).
• The Blue Room Theatre’s Executive Director, Kerry O’Sullivan, has announced her resignation and will relocate from Perth to Melbourne in 2017.
• The Federal Government has agreed to fund Sounds Australia for another four years following a successful #SaveOurSounds campaign.
• Artistic Director of Darwin Festival, Andrew Ross, has announced his departure. Head of Programming, Felix Preval, will act in the role of Artistic Director for the 2017 season.​
• Artist, Producer and Emerging Cultural Leader, Rani Pramesti, has been announced as Youth Development Officer at Maribyrnong City Council.
• Temperance Hall in South Melbourne, new residence of Phillip Adams BalletLab, is being upgraded and will be looking to accommodate new tenants. More info.

VALE

The arts community has gathered to celebrate the life of award-winning architect, set and costume designer, Peter Corrigan, who passed away last week.

POSITIONS VACANT

Research Program Manager, Cultural Development Network. Apps close 12 Dec.
Production Manager, Sydney Theatre Company. Apps close 14 Dec.
Administration Assistant, Crossroad Arts. Apply by 15 Dec.
Head of Performance Practices, NIDA. Apps close 19 Dec.
Head of Development and Deputy Executive Director, Belvoir. Apps close 19 Dec.
Creative Program Officer, Brisbane City Council. Apps close 19 Dec.
Events Manager, Australian Chamber Orchestra. Apps close 30 Dec.
Producer, Darwin Festival. Apps close 3 Jan.
Head of Communications, National Theatre Wales. Apps close 6 Jan.
Marketing & Publicity Manager, Regional Arts Victoria. Apps close 17 Jan.
Management Roles, Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts (PICA). Apps close 9 Jan.
Artistic Director, Opera Queensland. Apps close 23 Jan.

CONTACT US

w: tnv.net.au
e: info@tnv.net.au
facebook: Theatre Network Australia
twitter: @TheatreNetworkA

Compiled (on the streets of Roma!) by Bethany Simons, Theatre Network Australia.

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