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TNV STUFF

Australian Theatre Forum 2013 Canberra – update
Planning for the ATF 2013 is well underway with our principal sponsor, Centenary of Canberra, and our principal funder, the Australia Council for the Arts, on board. The Forum is scheduled for the end of May 2013, in Canberra (exact dates coming soon).

The National Advisory Committee, a great bunch of people from around the country, met in Adelaide in February for its first meeting to discuss outcomes from the 2011 Forum and ideas for the 2013 Curator, and to draft a curatorial brief.

The Committee is: Robyn Archer, Centenary of Canberra; Steve Bull, Pvi collective; Jo Duffy, Ten Days on the Island; Michael Futcher, Zen Zen Zo; Rick Heath, APACA; Edwina Lunn, Darwin Festival; Frank Mainoo, Team MESS; Rachael Maza, Ilbijerri Theatre Company; Andy Packer, Slingsby Theatre Company; Caroline Stacey, The Street Theatre Canberra; Christopher Tooher, Bell Shakespeare; and Nicole Beyer, Theatre Network Victoria.

We are also working on the ATF website – we’ve already included some accommodation options for you to start considering and other information will be added as it comes to hand.

National Touring Workshop Report now available on TNV website
At this year’s APAM in February, TNV partnered with APACA (Australian Performing Arts Centres Association) and PATA (Performing Arts Touring Alliance) to present a workshop on national touring, for delegates to discuss some of the crucial touring issues facing the performing arts today. The report from the workshop is available to download from (link removed). Special thanks to PATA’s Chair, Karilyn Brown, for chairing the workshop so well.

NATIONAL STUFF

Open Source seeks submissions – closing 5 April
Open Source, an initiative of Legs On The Wall, provides a space and community for practitioners experimenting with the body, mixed media and live performance. Submissions sought from as diverse a field as possible. Two projects will be selected for creative development.

Indigenous Experimental Art Fund – closing 10 April
Grants of up to $30,000 are available to support Indigenous-led projects that benefit the development of contemporary Indigenous media, interdisciplinary and hybrid art practitioners. (Link removed).

Multicultural Arts Forum – Groundswell, Sydney, 13–14 April
A space for inclusive dialogue and networking for artists, arts workers, researchers, organisations and cultural policy decision-makers of all backgrounds. Organisers say, “It’s time to benefit from the enormous untapped cultural resources in Australia and advance the Arts so that they truly reflect our culturally diverse society.” groundswellctcs.blogspot.com.au/p/multicultural-arts-forum-2012.html

New South Wales Theatre Meeting – Carriageworks, 20 April
Theatre Network NSW’s inaugural NSW Theatre Meeting features speakers Bridgette Van Leuven, Tim McGarry, Simon Hinton, David Williams and Tara Smith. The meeting will bring together theatre professionals from across New South Wales “to discuss ideas and issues affecting our industry and improve the dialogue between individuals and organisations big and small”. The meeting is FREE for the theatre sector.

Indigenous leadership initiative for creative industries – closes 29 April
Through an intensive, fully funded program that includes tailored leadership development, mentoring and industry placements in Australia and the UK, ACCELERATE offers outstanding applicants a unique opportunity to develop as leaders.

Artist Initiated Residencies – closes 1 May
Artists working in interdisciplinary and hybrid arts are invited to develop proposals for professional development residencies in Australia or internationally. Proposals should outline how you will work in collaboration with the residency host to experiment and develop your arts practice.

Edward Albee Scholarship for playwrights – closes 4 May
The Albee Scholar spends a month in New York writing and being introduced to US-based playwrights, literary managers, agents and artistic directors. Accommodation, flights and a stipend will be provided to the winner who will be required to present a full draft of their new play two months after returning from the US.

YPAA National Symposium – Sydney, 12–14 July
“Speaking in tongues: How do we translate the language of the arts?” includes international and national speakers, forums, workshops and more.

Regional Arts Australia National Conference in SA, 18–21 October
The eighth Regional Arts Australia National Conference in Goolwa is for professional artists, arts workers and volunteers interested in fostering and maintaining their local arts and culture.

VICTORIAN STUFF

Circularity: Contemporary Circus Festival – starts TOMORROW
From 4–11 April the Women’s Circus invites you to immerse yourself in all things circus. Learn new skills, take creative risks, see fabulous circus shows, perform your act and join in conversations with artists and directors. Across three amazing arts spaces in Footscray, over eight fun-filled days.

Studio residences as artist development opportunities – closes 13 April
Arena Theatre Company is encouraging applications for studio residencies from emerging, independent, culturally diverse, indigenous artists and artists with a disability.  

Arts Victoria’s Arts Marketing Innovation Fund – closes 16 April
The Fund is a once-off program supporting and encouraging arts organisations to initiate new and innovative marketing approaches, promote their work to new people in new ways, and diversify and/or increase their earned revenue streams. It will fund up to 75% of expenditure on each initiative it supports, up to a maximum contribution of $15,000.

Industry Skills Needs Assessment Meeting – Melbourne, 19 April. FREE
What does the theatre industry need in terms of new skills? Have your say about the curriculum changes needed in vocational training. 10am – 3pm (offered in two parts) at Innovation and Business Skills Australia, Level 11, 176 Wellington Parade, East Melbourne.

Arts Victoria’s first Cultural Diversity Action Plan
The Arts Victoria website says, “The Cultural Diversity Action Plan 2012–2020 is a coordinated set of actions that will sharpen Arts Victoria’s approach to culturally sensitive service delivery.”

Not Yet It’s Difficult two-day workshop: Body Listening, 23–24 April (and a forum and a seminar!)
AMPERS&ND brings together leading innovators in music, dance and physical theatre from Australia, Korea and Europe, researching new modes of artistic communication between performer and musician. As part of AMPERS&ND the Body Listening workshop will be presented in Melbourne. Developed and led by David Pledger, AD of NYID. 10am – 2pm each day, $120.

Castanet Artists’ Forum – Footscray Arts Centre, 9am on 1 May
Castanet, a network of Victorian arts organisations, artists and government agencies that support community arts and cultural development, invites artists to a professional development forum to explore what they do and why they do it. Four workshops will be delivered by leading arts practitioners Dave Kelman, Jude Anderson, Gorkem Acaroğlu and Ian Pidd, and will feature a special keynote address from Berlin-based group Rimini Protokoll. $40 full, $15 conc.

Submissions for the RAV 2013 Education and Families Program – closes 8 June
Regional Arts Victoria’s incursion program is fully curated with the purpose of delivering arts experiences to schools and community venues across Victoria. Work can be presented in performance, workshop or residency form, and should include elements of drama, dance, music, visual arts, media and/or literature.

St Martins needs your love letters – by 1 October
Performed by members of St Martin’s teenage performers ensemble, “Love Letters” requires submissions of love letters, new and used, to help devise the show.

INTERNATIONAL STUFF

Vancouver theatre community rallies together over loss of Vancouver Playhouse
Says PACT (Professional Association of Canadian Theatres), “This moment calls to us to look at our theatre ecosystem clearly and honestly. What is happening to Canadian theatre across the country? Why are so many companies struggling? Is the bankruptcy of the Vancouver Playhouse an isolated incident, or is it the proverbial canary in the coalmine?” In response to the theatre’s closure PACT is seeking to initiate “a national dialogue about Canadian Theatre, its place in the social, economic and cultural life of Canadians, and what we need as theatre-makers to thrive.”

TNV MEMBER GIVEAWAYS

Win a double-pass to the Big HOO-HAA!
TNV has two free double-passes for subscribers to see the Big HOO-HAA! As part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, at Roxanne Parlour (Roxanne Room: 2 Coverlid Pl, Melbourne) on Friday 6 April. Show starts at 6.30pm. Email your full name to anna@tnv.net.au by 5pm Wednesday 4 April to be in the running!

INDUSTRY MOVEMENTS

• Simon Abrahams steps down as Executive Producer of Polyglot to take up the position of Program Manager, Artistic Development, at Arts Centre Melbourne.
• Kate Larsen is leaving Arts Access Australia in October and applications are open for a replacement.
• Katherine McLean has stepped down from the position of General Manager of Barking Gecko in WA.
• Fiona Winning (our fabulous ATF 2011 Curator!) has been appointed head of programming at Sydney Festival.
• Sam Haren has stepped down as Artistic Director of the Border Project in SA. A newly formed Artistic Directorate to replace him will be led by Cameron Goodall.
• Michael Daly has taken up the position of Executive Producer of Deckchair Theatre in WA.
• Rob Brookman is the new CEO of the State Theatre Company South Australia. His son, Geordie Brookman, will be the new Artistic Director, replacing Adam Cook.
• Bernie Haldane is leaving her position as General Manager of HotHouse Theatre in Albury Wodonga.
• Kate Shearer has left her position as Artistic Director of the Big West Festival and the new AD will be announced very soon.