News

New Conductor and Artistic Director for Sydney Symphony

Tue, 15 May 2012 03:51:00 GMT

The Sydney Symphony has appointed American conductor David Robertson as its Chief Conductor and Artistic Director for five years from January 2014.

He succeeds Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor Vladimir Ashkenazy, who will continue his special relationship with the Sydney Symphony, performing with the orchestra each year from 2014.

http://www.sydneysymphony.com/davidrobertson/

Report of Australia Council review released today

Tue, 15 May 2012 03:47:00 GMT

Arts Minister Simon Crean released the report of the Australia Council review in Sydney today. He announced that the review made 18 recommendations for reform of the Council, saying: "The Review is important to the development of the National Cultural Policy and will ensure the Australia Council is best-placed to respond to the arts and culture sector of today and into the future.'

http://www.minister.regional.gov.au/sc/releases/2012/may/sc053_2012.aspx

What's in the Budget for the arts

Wed, 09 May 2012 06:09:00 GMT

Read Arts Minister Simon Crean's media release and today's release from ArtsPeak.

http://www.minister.regional.gov.au/sc/releases/2012/may/sc049_2012.aspx

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National Cultural Policy delayed

Fri, 04 May 2012 07:29:00 GMT

The long awaited National Cultural Policy has been postponed due to a lack of funds. The policy, the first for the sector in nearly 20 years, was expected to be released to coincide with the budget.

This hurdle has prompted a number of peak arts bodies to release statements encouraging the work to continue. The Council for Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences (CHASS) made note of their disappointment, but encouraged Minister Simon Crean to continue work on a “robust, significant and well-resourced policy that will shape Australian culture for the next decade.” Arts Peak expressed similar sentiments, confirming that their “aspirations for a stronger and better supported arts industry remain undiminished.”

The full statements are available below.

Media Release: Arts Peak

Media Release: CHASS statement to Minister Simon Crean

ASO Chair retires after 20 years in the arts

Fri, 04 May 2012 05:42:00 GMT

Chair of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, Tim O'Loughlin, retired on Monday this week (30 April). After 20 years involvement with the performing arts, including as Chair of State Opera, Executive Director of Arts SA and a member of the Australia Council, he has decided to call it a day.

Tim says, 'The ASO is in excellent shape. Our Chief Conductor and Concertmaster enjoy richly deserved international reputations. The playing group continues to astound. One of the strengths of our musicians is their commitment to quality and their diligence in protecting that quality.

'I want also to pay tribute to our subscribers. They have stood rock solid behind us through the difficult economic times. It is not just a matter of them buying tickets. Their faith in our Orchestra and enthusiasm for the concerts keeps pushing us in a way that can only reward us and them.

'The ASO is a broad church. We have a fantastic Friends Group and loyal sponsors lead by our Principal Partner, Santos and Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, David Knox. Its sponsorship is one of the most long-standing and important in Australia’s performing arts sector. We are expanding our outreach programmes to broaden our audience base,' says Tim.

AMPAG welcomes new Chair, Colin Dunsford of Ernst & Young.

WA Symphony scores a new Principal Conductor

Thu, 03 May 2012 01:05:00 GMT

In a major coup for the company, Israeli-born conductor Asher Fisch has been appointed as Principal Conductor and Artistic Adviser to the West Australian Symphony Orchestra.

Fisch, who was mentored by Daniel Barenboim and began his conducting career as Barenboim's assistant, has worked with many of the world's renowned orchestras. He first conducted WASO in 1999 and has returned four times. His appointment is for three years, beginning with the orchestra's 2014 season.

http://www.waso.com.au/res/Media%20releases/MEDIA%20RELEASE%20WASO%20Principal%20Conductor%20announcement%20FINAL.pdf

Aboriginal dancers join Circus Oz

Thu, 03 May 2012 00:38:00 GMT

Two young Aboriginal dancers have joined Circus Oz’s 2012 ensemble, after being selected through the company’s Blakrobatics program. Through the week-long Blakrobatics master class, Ghenoa Gela and Dale Woodbridge were chosen for an internship – and are now two of the new five stars of the next show.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/ipad/circus-oz-goes-indigen-oz/story-fn6bn9st-1226344092943

AMPAG bids farewell to a great GM

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 06:33:00 GMT

Chris Tooher, General Manager with Bell Shakespeare, will soon join Sydney Festival as Executive Director. Bell Shakespeare, an AMPAG member, has not yet announced a new GM.

Whoever it is will be busy - maintaining an impressive mainstage schedule, a regional program reaching right around Australia, almost 200,000 paid attendances, an education program that reaches around 80,000 students and an intensive online presence. Chris will be a hard act to follow.

AMPAG calls for arts rep on ACNC Board

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 05:30:00 GMT

Today, AMPAG submitted its response to the Federal Government's review of charitable fundraising regulation. In it AMPAG made an urgent call for the arts sector to be represented on the Advisory Board to the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission.

While contributing an enormous amount to the turnover, employment and economic strength of the charities sector, the unique characteristics of the arts are often omitted from discussion about charities reform. Read AMPAG's submission here.

Entries open 28 May for playwriting award

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 03:18:00 GMT

The third Richard Burton Award for Playwriting, created by Sally Burton in association with Black Swan State Theatre Company, has new entry guidelines in 2012. Entries open 28 May and close 6 July 2012.

With a prize pool of $30,000, the Richard Burton Award for Playwriting is one of the richest in Australia.

For more information, see Black Swan's media release.

Cultural ministers commit to Excellence Pool for MPAs

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 02:34:00 GMT

The Cultural Ministers Council—now called the Meeting of Cultural Ministers—committed last week to establishing the Excellence Pool to support the major performing arts companies. The Excellence Pool will be funded by the Australian Government and a combined contribution from other jurisdictions.

Ministers committed to seeking funding for the Excellence Pool through their budget processes to begin in 2013–14.

It also committed to develop an Arts Accord between the Australian, state, territory and local governments over the next 12 months.

Companies will be invited to submit Expressions of Interest consistent with the criteria for access to the Excellence Pool.

Read the Communique here.

Watch out for these seminars on technology and the arts

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 06:38:00 GMT

Peter Tullin and Simon Cronshaw, the London-based founders of CultureLabel.com, will be holding free public seminars in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane on consumer and technology trends that will affect the cultural sector over the next 5-10 years.

They believe cultural organisations can create new commercial income streams on the strength of what they already possess—“great content, great experiences and great brands”.

AbaF (Australia Business Arts Foundation) is hosting the events: http://www.abaf.org.au/arts/attend-events.html

Intensive seminars

They will also be running follow-up full-day workshops on how to maximise limited assets and creating an organisational culture of innovation. AbaF says they are ideal for Ideal for “CEOs, GMs, directors and executive staff of medium to large scale organisations along with ambitious small scale organisations looking to grow”. These full-day intensive workshops ($187) should provide some excellent steps and practical examples for organisations to follow.

Sydney

The Dixson Room
State Library of NSW
5:00–7:00pm
Wednesday 11 April FREE (RSVP by 30 March)

Intensive seminar
9:30am–4:30pm
Thursday 12 April

Brisbane

SLQ Auditorium 1
State Library of Queensland
5:30–7:30pm
Tuesday 17 April FREE

Intensive seminar
9:30am–4:30pm
Thursday 12 April

Melbourne

State Library of Victoria
Village Roadshow Theatrette
3:00–5:00pm
Thursday 19 April FREE

Intensive seminar
9:00am–4:00pm
Friday 20 April

AMPAG companies bask in the glow of Green Room awards

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 00:43:00 GMT

Green Room awards in Victoria were dominated by AMPAG companies, including the Malthouse Theatre, the Melbourne Theatre Company, Opera Australia, the Australian Ballet and Victorian Opera.

Congratulations to all: http://www.greenroom.org.au/

Matildas waltz into the arms of the QTC

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 00:34:00 GMT

Queensland Theatre Company productions and artists scooped the Matilda Awards in Brisbane last week, including best mainstage production for Pygmalion.

Check out the full list here: http://www.matildaawards.com.au/

Four Australian companies to perform at the 2012 Cultural Olympiad in London

Sat, 10 Mar 2012 02:38:00 GMT

The Sydney Theatre Company, with Cate Blanchett, will perform a new adaptation of Botho Strauss’s Gross und Klein at the London 2012 Festival later this year.

Three other Australian companies, The Black Arm Band, Legs on the Wall and One Step at a Time Like This theatre group join the STC at the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad. http://www.arts.gov.au/resources/newsletters/art-and-culture/2012/02/Australian-arts-on-the-world-stage