05 Jul, 2018

Circus Oz and Qld's Casus Circus take Chasing Smoke to Darwin

Natano Fa’anana co-artistic director of Casus Circus directed the Circus Oz Blakflip programme in late 2016 resulting in the creation of a new show Chasing Smoke. It is now heading to Darwin Festival.

04 Jul, 2018

Emerging composers announced for MSO’s Cybec 21st Century Australian Composers’ Program

The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra announced the rising stars of Australian music who have been selected for the next Cybec 21st Century Australian Composers’ Program.

04 Jul, 2018

Arts Improves Lives - WA community speak from experience

Personal stories about how the arts and culture have touched the lives of people in diverse communities across WA is the focus of a new publication 'Articulate' release by the Chamber of Arts and Culture WA.

04 Jul, 2018

STC's Connected program for refugees, asylum seekers and migrants

Since 2016, Sydney Theatre Company’s Connected program has combined drama approaches with English language learning for refugees, asylum seekers and migrants. The program is delivered in partnership with organisations including Asylum Seekers Centre, Australian Red Cross and MTC Australia.

04 Jul, 2018

Grand piano finds new home in Karratha

Musica Viva coordinated the significant donation of a concert grand piano to the newly built Karratha Red Earth Arts Precinct through the Act-Belong-Commit New Life Instrument Program supported by Healthway, the West Australian Health Promotion Foundation.

04 Jul, 2018

Musica Viva - Taking live music across NT

Musica Viva in Schools (MVIS) aim to bring quality music education to as many students in Australia as it can. Last month, the popular band Zeeko transported their catchy vibe to students from Alice Springs to Croker Island thanks to the generous support of the Northern Territory Department of Education and a private donor.

04 Jul, 2018

TSO announces participants in Louise Crossley Conducting Workshop

The Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra announces the seven successful participants selected to take part in the inaugural Louise Crossley Conducting Workshop, an elite conducting training opportunity with a focus on female conductors taking place later this year.

01 Jul, 2018

July Sneak Peeks 2018

This month stages around the country are ablaze with outstanding theatre, music, opera and dance as well as plenty on offer for young audiences during the school holidays.

28 Jun, 2018

Elena Schwarz Selected for the LA Phil's 2018/19 Dudamel Fellowship Program

The LA Philharmonic Association has announced the four conductors who will participate in the 2018/19 Dudamel Fellowship Program including the very talented Australian/Swiss conductor Elena Schwarz.

28 Jun, 2018

Common sense wins through

Advocacy pays off as exemptions for arts and charity sectors included in the FITS bill.

28 Jun, 2018

A strong year for theatre - AWGIE Nominations

​An outstanding field of Australian film, television and theatre is set to shine at the 51st Annual AWGIE Awards, showcasing a wealth of unique Australian voices.

27 Jun, 2018

MSO honours Marc and Eva Besen with Life Membership

On its mid-season gala, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra presented Marc Besen AC and Eva Besen AO with Life Memberships to acknowledge and celebrate their enduring commitment to the Orchestra.

27 Jun, 2018

Rising stars tune up for chamber music ‘World Cup’

56 young hopefuls are cramming suitcases with scores, strings and stress balls this week, bound for the Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition, where they will join their string quartet or piano trio colleagues for eight days of intense music-making from 1-8 July 2018.

27 Jun, 2018

Classical and Contemporary to collaborate at The Quarry

With vital support from the Australia Council for the Arts, West Australian Ballet are preparing to collaborate with West Australian contemporary dance company Co3, and Artistic Director/Choreographer of Australian Dance Theatre, Garry Stewart, for a new work at WAB’s Season 2019 Ballet at the Quarry.

22 Jun, 2018

Holiday Fare

School holidays are fast approaching, but our members are prepared. Their genius for inspiring children is not confined by the classroom — they have conjured up some sparkling programs to refresh, inspire and energise students during their winter break.

20 Jun, 2018

Ming-Zhu Hii as Female Director in Residence at Malthouse for 2018/19.

Malthouse Theatre announces the appointment of Ming-Zhu Hii as Female Director in Residence for 2018/19.

20 Jun, 2018

The Australian Ballet’s ninth China tour marks international debut

The Australian Ballet has announced that the company will tour to Beijing, Nanjing and Shanghai in October 2018 with David McAllister’s dazzling production of The Sleeping Beauty.

20 Jun, 2018

18th Annual Helpmann Awards Nominations & Act 1 winners announced

The countdown to the 18th Annual Helpmann Awards is on, following the announcement of the 2018 Helpmann Award Nominees. Congratulations to the Act 1 winners announced on Sunday.

20 Jun, 2018

Why the ASO continues to invest in music education

As an organisation focused on music making, music education sits at the heart of the ASO’s mission. In SA, however, music education is complex and perplexing.

18 Jun, 2018

Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme Bill 2017 Government proposed amendments - Submission

AMPAG has considered the government's proposed amendments to the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme Bill 2017 (the Bill) and the extent to which they address our concerns.

15 Jun, 2018

Qld playwright finalists vie for a spot in Queensland Theatre's 2019 season

This month Queensland Premier’s Drama Award 2018-19 finalists’ draft works will be shared through a public reading, after which a single winner will be selected to have their work fully staged in Queensland Theatre’s 2019 Season.

13 Jun, 2018

Birthday Honours list reaches across the arts

This year’s honours list sees a broad-based representation from across the arts, from performing artists, composers, music conductors and directors, music education and steel band champions to community-led activities, arts administration, executive and financial advisory roles and of course, our dedicated philanthropists.

13 Jun, 2018

Opera Australia marks 21 years of Victorian schools touring with the launch of a new Australian commission

At Port Melbourne Primary School, the Hon Martin Foley MP, Victorian Minister for the Creative Industries, launched a newly commissioned production for Opera Australia’s 2018 Victorian Schools Tour, helping mark 21 years since this vital outreach program began.

13 Jun, 2018

Bell Shakespeare announces 2018 philanthropy-supported creative placements

Bell Shakespeare announced Brisbane based Iranian artist Nasim Khosravi as the final recipient of its 2018 philanthropy-funded creative placements.

13 Jun, 2018

June Sneak Peeks 2018

While we're racing into June with great enthusiasm, our e-news earlier today wasn't all that it should be -whoops– there's more we wanted to tell you- so June Sneak Peeks -take 2!

13 Jun, 2018

May Sneak Peeks 2018

It’s a bumper month in May, with new and large scale major works taking the stage here and abroad, impacting audiences in many ways, from inspired hearts to vibrant cities. We report back on the Australian premiere The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, which Culture Count estimates generated $10.7 million in economic benefit for Victoria.

13 Jun, 2018

April Sneak Peeks 2018

​Autumn looks like being a season of celebration and laughter around the country. In Sydney, we have the slapstick exuberance of Belvoir’s Sami in Paradise — a new take on Nikolai Erdman’s classic 1928 comedy The Suicide. In South Australia, Andrew Bovell’s After Dinner is a knockout comedy that covers everything from bad dance moves to lonely hearts. Further north, Queensland Theatre will delight audiences with Shakespeare’s whimsical tale of mistaken identities, the much loved Twelfth Night.

13 Jun, 2018

March Sneak Peeks 2018

Valentine’s Day may have passed, but the love lingers on. Bell Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra scorches with the searing tale of a love that was too great for the world. Black Swan Theatre Company celebrates love with Julia Hales’s deeply personal account of her experiences as daughter, actor, dreamer and person with Down syndrome in You Know We Belong Together.

13 Jun, 2018

Feb Sneak Peeks 2018

High summer sees the performing arts explode with life around the country. We have traditional favourites as well as premieres and Australian debuts, and of course, being February, we herald the Chinese New Year.

13 Jun, 2018

Jan Sneak Peeks 2018

2018 is off to a high-octane start with a selection of brilliant performances and original productions that will ensnare the senses.

13 Jun, 2018

UWA and WASO: New course embeds music students into professional orchestra

Professional musicians and outstanding post-graduate students will work side by side in a world-first masters degree program being launched by The University of Western Australia (UWA) and the West Australian Symphony Orchestra (WASO).

06 Jun, 2018

Queensland Ballet to receive $14 million towards centre of excellence vision

The Palaszczuk Government will invest $14 million towards Queensland Ballet’s $35 million vision to transform the Thomas Dixon Centre into a centre of artistic excellence.

01 Jun, 2018

New theatre for Qld - will support growth and ambition

The Palaszczuk Government will deliver a new $150 million state of the art theatre for Brisbane with the bulk of the funding committed for its construction part in this month’s State Budget.

01 Jun, 2018

New members join AMPAG’s board

AMPAG has announced the appointment of several new members to its board, following its AGM on 29 May.

01 Jun, 2018

Re:think—Better tax system, better Australia - Submission

AMPAG’s response to the Australian Government discussion paper, Re:think—Better tax system, better Australia

30 May, 2018

The SSO leads Australia’s first international Make Music Day event with global livestream of Verdi’s Requiem concert

In celebration of international Make Music Day, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra will share a global broadcast of its performance of Verdi’s Requiem on 21 June live from the Sydney Opera House.

23 May, 2018

2018 CHASS nominations open

2018 will mark the fifth year of the annual CHASS Australia Prizes. The Australia Prizes honour distinguished achievements by Australians working, studying, or training in the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) sectors, including academics, researchers, practitioners, philanthropists, policy makers, and students.

22 May, 2018

Playwriting continues to take centre stage at STC

Sue Smith is the new STC Patrick White Playwrights’ Fellow, Kim Ho wins the Patrick White Playwrights’ Award and STC’s Emerging Writers’ Group participants will continue in the group for another year.

18 May, 2018

QSO welcomes Simon Gallaher to the Board

Queensland Symphony Orchestra continues to build momentum, both in the concert hall and in the Boardroom, with Chair Chris Freeman welcoming one of Australia’s best-known and most experienced producer-performers in Simon Gallaher as a Director.

18 May, 2018

FITTER. FASTER. BETTER. at Black Swan State Theatre Company

Clare Watson brings FITTER. FASTER. BETTER. to BSSTC - a unique experiential, intergenerational performance event where our ideas about the body in motion are refocused through the eyes of a child.

16 May, 2018

Penrith Youth Orchestra debut

Established in February 2018 by the Australian Chamber Orchestra, The Joan and the Penrith Symphony Orchestra with support from the Crown Resorts Foundation’s Western Sydney Arts Initiative, the newly formed Penrith Youth Orchestra (PYO) performed their debut concert on Sunday 20 May at the Joan Sutherland Centre of Performing Arts.

16 May, 2018

ASO's Festival of Learning

In June, Adelaide Symphony Orchestra's annual Festival of Learning returns to the Adelaide Town Hall for a week-long celebration of music-making.

16 May, 2018

2019 Creative Arts Fellowship applications open

Do you know an inspired and skilled creative artist or writer who can make imaginative use of the National Library of Australia’s collection to create a new artistic or literary work (or body of work)?

14 May, 2018

Recognising talent and passion in opera

​Towering talent and unflagging passion and commitment have been celebrated with the award of the Australian International Opera Awards (AIOA) — Australia’s most prestigious vocal scholarship — and the Commander of the Order of the Star of Italy — one of the highest civilian awards in Italy.

11 May, 2018

Designer David Fleischer on the “classical minimalism” of ‘ab [intra]’

Designer David Fleischer talks about his design choices on the new Sydney Dance Company production ‘ab [intra]’.

11 May, 2018

Introducing WAO's Opera Youth Ambassadors for 2018

West Australian Opera have announced their 2018 secondary student youth ambassadors.

10 May, 2018

Art and mental health meet at the Pinnacles

Freeing West Australian Opera from the concert hall and setting it outdoors unleashes its formidable power. Set it against the mystical Pinnacles in Western Australia, and you create an experience that defies description.

10 May, 2018

An opportunity to inspire and engage women conductors

The Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra announces female focused conductor training opportunity - one of a number of elite training programs designed to nourish emerging talent.

10 May, 2018

Multi-generational cast enter second phase of circus development

Circus Oz and Brisbane's Company 2 creative collaboration brings together youth and industry tight wire specialists.

10 May, 2018

AIO Awards (AIOA) announces Fleuranne Brockway as scholarship recipient

The Australian International Opera Awards, Australia’s most prestigious vocal scholarship, this year offered in association with the Royal College of Music (RCM) in London. Together, the AIOA and the RCM are delighted to announce that the recipient of their 2018 scholarship is Fleuranne Brockway.

09 May, 2018

Budget lacks cultural ambition

The Federal Budget released last night is disappointing and offers no new strategic developments for the arts sector or for strengthening the links between the arts and innovation, education, health, soft diplomacy or tourism.

07 May, 2018

Will Budget ignite opportunity to fuel artistic ambition and use the arts to strengthen other portfolio outcomes

AMPAG calls for greater investment in the performing arts to fuel artistic ambition and audience reach, and to value the arts across key government policies.

03 May, 2018

Sam Walsh AO takes lead of the Australia Council

Minister Mitch Fifield has appointed Sam Walsh AO as the 13th Chair of the Australia Council for the Arts.

03 May, 2018

OA's Artistic Director awarded one of Italy’s top cultural honours

Opera Australia is proud to announce Artistic Director Lyndon Terracini AM, has been awarded one of the highest civilian honours in Italy, Commander of the Order of the Star of Italy (Commendatore dell’Ordine della Stella d’Italia).

02 May, 2018

NSW Premier’s Literary Awards announced

Black is the New White by Nakkiah Lui (Sydney Theatre Company) awarded Nick Enright Prize for Playwriting.

27 Apr, 2018

12 Semi Finalists Announced - 2018 ABC Young Performers Awards

They now prepare to compete in the semi-finals and the opportunity to play an exhilarating concerto accompanied by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra under the baton of celebrated conductor Dr. Nicholas Milton AM in the finals.

26 Apr, 2018

Finalists announced for the 2018 Western Australian of the Year awards

The finalists for the 2018 Western Australian of the Year Awards have been announced, celebrating exceptional West Australians who have made an extraordinary impact in the community and demonstrated excellence in their field.

26 Apr, 2018

Young People Fill the House at Sydney Theatre Company

More than 100 teenagers from across Sydney had fun at the theatre, without a teacher in sight.

26 Apr, 2018

#BernsteinAt100 celebrations with the SSO

The Sydney Symphony Orchestra joined arts organisations around the world to salute the legacy of cultural giant Leonard Bernstein as part of the #BernsteinAt100 celebrations.

23 Apr, 2018

Mazda hitting the high notes with ongoing Opera Australia partnership

Mazda and Opera Australia today announced an extension of their highly successful 15-year partnership, by a further three years to 2021.

18 Apr, 2018

2018 AIR awards nominees announced

Congratulations to all the nominees in the Best Independent Classical Album category of the 2018 AIR Awards.

18 Apr, 2018

Paige Rattray appointed as STC Associate Director

Sydney Theatre Company announced that it has appointed its former Richard Wherrett Fellow Paige Rattray in the new role of Associate Director.

18 Apr, 2018

Brisbane Girls Grammar School announces Education Partnership with QSO

Brisbane Girls Grammar School has announced the launch of its unique Education Partnership with Queensland Symphony Orchestra, providing students with the extraordinary opportunity to be mentored by, and perform with, some of Australia’s finest musicians.

18 Apr, 2018

QSO announces Timothy Matthies Director of Artistic Planning

Mr Timothy Matthies will take up the role of Director of Artistic Planning from June 25.

18 Apr, 2018

WASO Chorus to tour China in May

The West Australian Symphony Orchestra Chorus will embark on a 12-day tour of China, with performances in Shanghai, Nanjing and Beijing.

13 Apr, 2018

New OzCo figures show MPA’s Touring Reach Growing Steadily

The latest figures released by the Australia Council show that the touring reach of Australia’s major performing arts companies continues to grow steadily.

13 Apr, 2018

Bangarra and ACO in Tokyo, Japan for Australia now

Ambassador Richard Court AC announces in Tokyo the Australia now program, presenting the best of Australian innovation, lifestyle and creativity in Japan from April to November 2018.

13 Apr, 2018

Rumpelstiltskin spins gold with UK premiere season

London’s iconic Southbank Centre to present Windmill Theatre Co and State Theatre Company South Australia’s Rumpelstiltskin in Queen Elizabeth Hall as centrepiece 2018 Christmas show.

12 Apr, 2018

Momentum building for cultural change in live theatre

About 50 representatives of major, medium and small theatre companies, performers, crew and other industry stakeholders came together in Melbourne for an unprecedented forum dedicated to addressing harassment, discrimination and bullying in Australian theatres.

12 Apr, 2018

MSO announces 2019 Cybec Young Composer in Residence

The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra has appointed Mark Holdsworth as its Cybec Young Composer in Residence for 2019.

12 Apr, 2018

The 2017 Patrick White Playwrights’ Award and Fellowship

Sydney Theatre Company has released the judges’ shortlist of five plays in the running for the 2017 Patrick White Playwrights’ Award.

12 Apr, 2018

Jobs up, but is income keeping pace?

The number of positions in music and performing arts grew at a faster rate in the past five years than the Australian workforce, according to recent analysis of the 2016 Census by Queensland University of Technology researchers.

12 Apr, 2018

Queensland Theatre announces Amanda Jolly as Executive Director

Not only is the Queensland Theatre celebrating the past year as a record-breaker in terms of audience reach, ticket revenue, critical acclaim and artistic success, company Chair Elizabeth Jameson has announced Amanda Jolly as Executive Director.

11 Apr, 2018

STCSA and KOJO join forces

Two different storytellers joining forces, State Theatre Company South Australia has announced an exciting new partnership with digital content creators, KOJO.

11 Apr, 2018

Young musicians from regional NSW mentored by the SSO

Sixty-four students from regional New South Wales mentored by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra when the orchestra held its annual pop-up music camp Playerlink!

11 Apr, 2018

Sir Andrew Davis continues artistic relationship with the MSO as Conductor Laureate

Sir Andrew Davis has announced he will step down from his role as Chief Conductor with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra at the end of his tenure in December 2019.

10 Apr, 2018

Electoral Legislation Amendments- Committee Report recognises Arts sector concerns

The report recommendations seek to address draft legislation overreach; however, the real test will be if Government accepts the recommendations and the adequacy of the wording in any proposed amendments.

10 Apr, 2018

35th Annual Victorian Green Room Awards Winners

Melbourne's Arts Industry came together to celebrate the achievements of their talented peers at the 2018 Green Room Awards.

09 Apr, 2018

Curious Incident Generated $10.7 Million for Economy

The Australian premiere of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, presented by Melbourne Theatre Company and Arts Centre Melbourne, generated an estimated $10.7 million in economic benefit to the State, a study by Culture Counts has revealed.

06 Apr, 2018

An artistic exchange

The Australian Ballet’s Principal Artist Kevin Jackson will perform The Prince in The Royal Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker while Australian dancer Alexander Campbell, a principal of The Royal Ballet, will delight audiences at the Sydney Opera House when he performs as the Prince in The Australian Ballet’s production of Cinderella.

05 Apr, 2018

​Bell welcomes 30 regional teachers for mentorship

Bell Shakespeare hosted the 2018 recipients of the Regional Teacher Mentorship in Sydney in March.

05 Apr, 2018

​New opera of Gaiman's Coraline hits the London stage

Victorian Opera’s first co-commission and co-production with Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, an adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s much-loved novella Coraline, has opened to raft of four-star reviews and a sold-out season at London’s Barbican Centre.

04 Apr, 2018

Ballet Moves for Adult Creative Health

In 2017, Queensland Ballet (QB) undertook research on the health and wellbeing benefits of ballet for mature adults.

29 Mar, 2018

Introducing Musica Viva FutureMakers 2018/19

Aura Go, piano and Matthias Schack-Arnott, percussive artist, are the FutureMakers 2018-19 artists.

29 Mar, 2018

​The Lighthouse Girl set to tour Regional WA

This Black Swan production which enjoyed sell out World Premiere seasons in both Albany and Perth in 2017, is set to tour to regional WA in April and May, this year.

28 Mar, 2018

Groundbreaking collaboration - A Tasmanian Requiem

A Tasmanian Requiem is a groundbreaking collaboration between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal artists - an ambitious musical and visual narrative that faces a past haunted by the terrible legacy of the Black War of Van Diemen’s Land.

28 Mar, 2018

Sydney Symphony Orchestra's 2018 Young Ambassadors

​Meet the brand new batch of bright and curious minds who are joining the SSO Young Ambassadors program in 2018.

28 Mar, 2018

Qld Ballet’s Jack Lister selected to choreograph for Ballet Now

​In association with Sadler’s Wells, the Birmingham Royal Ballet have revealed Qld Ballet’s choreographer Jack Lister has been commissioned for their 2019/20 season as part of Ballet Now.

28 Mar, 2018

​Bangarra announces new partnership with Boral

Bangarra Dance Theatre announced a new three-year agreement with major sponsor Boral that ensures delivery of world-class Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander dance experiences in regional and remote centres across Australia.

22 Mar, 2018

MSO honours Lady Potter AC with Life Membership

​At the opening gala of its 2018 season on Saturday 3 March, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO) presented Lady Primrose Potter AC with a Life Membership to celebrate her generous support for the Orchestra.

21 Mar, 2018

NSW Premier’s Literary Awards shortlists announced

Seven plays shortlisted including six plays for the Nick Enright Prize for Playwriting.

15 Mar, 2018

Bangarra's teacher training - Winhanga-rra in demand

​(Wiradjuri language for hear, think, listen). With the Australian Curriculum determining Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures as one of three priorities across the curriculum and the States curriculum incorporation of more Indigenous content there is high demand for professional learning in this area.

14 Mar, 2018

The Sydney Symphony Orchestra to hit the road

The Sydney Symphony Orchestra has been touring for almost as long as it has been alive and will this year celebrate 80 years of touring regional New South Wales when it goes back to where it all began: Wollongong.

14 Mar, 2018

​The Brandenburg Quartet - exciting new arrival

​The Brandenburg Quartet is an exciting new arrival on Australia’s music scene.

09 Mar, 2018

​Indigenous circus acts collaboration a first for Australia

An intercultural dialogue and Indigenous focus between BLAKflip and the Inuit community in Canada represents a first for Australia in terms of a major Indigenous circus arts collaboration, and one that will be developed further.

09 Mar, 2018

Three new chairs for WA

A changing of the guard has taken place for three AMPAG members with the appointments Richard Goyder AO as Chair of the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, Nicola Forrest as Chair of Black Swan State Theatre Company and of Andrew Pascoe as the new West Australian Opera Chairman.

09 Mar, 2018

Artists take up residence at Black Swan

BSSTC Resident Artists 2018 are; Tyler Hill (Designer), Ian Michael (Actor/ Director), Chloe Ogilvie (Lighting Designer) and Katt Osborne (Director).

08 Mar, 2018

​Plans to redevelop Queensland Ballet home unveiled to public

Queensland Ballet takes the next step in developing a state-of-the-art performing arts facility in West End.