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News: October 2015

Single tickets on sale for Arts Learning Forum opening reception and keynote

by Australia Council for the Arts & Kath Papas Productions published on

Opening reception and keynote by Katherine Zeserson (UK)—Single tickets on sale

We are releasing extra tickets to the opening reception of the Arts Learning Forum featuring international arts learning champion Katherine Zeserson and followed by a reception by the Maribyrnong River. This opportunity to hear Katherine Zeserson, Uncle Larry Walsh and Tony Grybowski, CEO of the Australia Council is open to anyone interested in arts learning: from tour guides to marketers, educators and CEOs, funding partners and board members. Bring a colleague!

  • Time: 3.30 pm registration for 4.00 pm start
  • Date: Wednesday 25 November
  • Single tickets price for Opening function: $40 available online

The Arts Learning Forum program is a three-day event for arts professionals with a role or interest in arts education, learning or engagement across all art forms, ages and communities. Delegates will exchange insights, practices and creative ideas and be inspired by Australian and international leaders including Katherine Zeserson (UK), Anna Cutler Director of Learning from the Tate in London, and Deborah Cheetham Artistic Director of Short Black Opera Company.

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Arts Learning Forum workshops

by Australia Council for the Arts & Kath Papas Productions published on

On Wednesday 25 November, before the official opening of the Australia Council for the Arts’ inaugural Arts Learning Forum, a series of free and low-cost workshops are open to all interested artists and organisations, whether or not you are attending the forum main program. They will provide focussed practical skills and knowledge for artists, educators and facilitators interested in brushing up on their arts learning skill set.

Included are opportunities to learn about inclusive and accessible arts learning and programs, working and forming partnerships with schools, and thinking strategically about digital engagement and design in learning programs.

Workshops

  • Open Your Eyes: Disability awareness and inclusive arts programs with Tim Dakin and Janice Florence, through Arts Access Victoria ($50)
  • Great Partnerships: Your Art in Their School with Heather Marsh (FREE! thanks to Creative Victoria)
  • Let’s Get Digital with Stuart Buchanan ($50)

Visit the website to see full details and register for the workshops.

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2015 Australian Society for Performing Arts Healthcare annual conference

by Ausdance published on

Key information

The Australian Society for Performing Arts Healthcare (ASPAH) recognises that all performing artists, young and old, amateur and professional, have unique needs that may not be met by standard models of healthcare.

The 2015 conference theme is 'A Career in the Spotlight: Enhancing Performance Health and Wellbeing'.

This year’s theme will inspire attendees to consider the health and well-being of the whole artist through evidence-informed practice, whether this is in the private teaching studio or the rooms of a healthcare professional.

Keynote speakers include international and national experts in performing arts healthcare: Dr Kate Hays, Associate Professor Rae de Lisle and Dr Cate Madill.

Researchers and clinicians in the fields of dance, drama, voice and music health will present their latest research and discuss possible strategies to overcome the health challenges associated with being a performing artist.

There will also be themed workshops about dance, music, voice and performing arts medicine research.

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NAAE welcomes final endorsement of The Australian Curriculum: The Arts

by National Advocates for Arts Education (NAAE) published on

The National Advocates for Arts Education (NAAE) welcomes the endorsement of The Australian Curriculum: The Arts by the Australian Education Council, and the release this week of the updated Australian Curriculum website (version 8.0).

The NAAE, which represents the five art forms included as separate subjects in the curriculum, has been campaigning for seven years on behalf of arts educators across the country. The Arts were not initially included in the national curriculum at all, and this week therefore marks a significant occasion, when The Arts are not only in the curriculum, but they include all five art forms: Dance, Drama, Media Arts, Music and the Visual Arts.

NAAE welcomes ACARA’s response to the Review of the Australian Curriculum, which had recommended a reduction of the Arts curriculum from five arts subject to two. In response to the review's concerns about the 'crowded curriculum', ACARA has introduced optional, single learning area achievement standards for The Arts, while keeping existing subject specific achievement standards as an alternative (NAAE's preferred option). There will be no changes to content descriptions.

The Australian Curriculum: The Arts has already received international recognition as a leader in 21st Century curriculum. Australia is in the unique position of having an Arts curriculum that provides sequential development for each art form, achieving language cohesion without homogenisation, and using appropriately more specialised language in the secondary years. The curriculum provides teachers with information for implementation support across the five art forms.

However, NAAE recognises that schools and teachers have flexibility to make decisions about how they teach the curriculum in accordance with the needs of their students, the requirements of their school and local curriculum authorities. We will continue to work on advocacy and implementation issues as the curriculum is rolled out across the country.

Download the media release. (550 KB PDF)

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Working with children in performing arts—industry consultation

by IBSA published on

Working with Children in performing arts? Innovation and Business Skills Australia, in conjunction with Focus on Skills and Ausdance, is developing a working with children skill set and units of competency in performing arts.

This project will involve working with AUSDANCE to address identified gaps in the current Dance qualifications and units:

  • Safe dance environments and equipment
  • Dances appropriate to age groups
  • Student health and wellbeing
  • Regulated environment for good teaching practice and code of conduct.

The first round of industry consultation has been completed and revised drafts of the Working with Children in Performing Arts skill sets and units have been updated to reflect stakeholder feedback. A new draft unit applicable to all people working with children in performing arts environments and an additional skill set were developed in response to feedback. All materials are now available for final validation and stakeholder input. Responses are required by close of business Monday 19 October.

Draft materials f or feedback

IBSA invites final comment on the following new materials:

Skill set:

  • CUASS00054 Working With Children in Performing Arts Skill Set
  • CUASS00055 Assistant dance teaching skill set

Units of competency (and their assessment requirements):

  • CUADTM412 Promote the physical and emotional wellbeing of children in performing arts
  • CUAWHS405 Provide a safe performing arts environment for children
  • CUAWHS406 Interact appropriately with children in performing arts environments

To read the draft materials for feedback, visit the Working with Children in performing arts web page on the IBSA website.

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The Arts Learning Forum

by Australia Council for the Arts published on

Key information

  • When: Wednesday 25 November – Friday 27 November 2015
  • Where: Footscray Community Arts Centre, Melbourne
  • Registrations close on 20 November 2015 (unless sold out prior)
  • For program and registration, visit the Arts Learning Forum web page.

The Arts Learning Forum program is a three-day event for arts professionals with a role or interest in arts education, learning or engagement across all art forms, ages and communities. Delegates will exchange insights, practices and creative ideas and be inspired by Australian and international leaders including Katherine Zeserson (UK), Anna Cutler Director of Learning from the Tate in London, and Deborah Cheetham Artistic Director of Short Black Opera Company.

The forum is part of the Australia Council’s continued commitment to build the capacity of the sector and to help make the arts more accessible to all Australians. It extends the work of the Arts Education Forum established by Major Performing Arts companies in 2010.

Drawing on the talents of over 60 contributing speakers, workshop leaders, panellists and provocateurs, the Forum will harness the collective knowledge and experience of arts learning leaders from around Australia. The Forum will include workshops, pecha kucha sessions, panels discussions, open space facilitation, open mic sessions, debate and resources across the breadth of the arts sector. Participants will be encouraged to share and discuss approaches to arts learning including: strategic vision, programs and their delivery, engagement methodologies and other issues.

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Call for applicants—a secondment/professional development program with Shaun Parker

by Shaun Parker & Company published on

Shaun Parker & Company is calling for applicants for its annual TRIGGER program, which will take place in December 2015.

Key information

  • What: TRIGGER secondment program.
  • Where: IO MYERS Theatre, University of NSW, Sydney.
  • When: 9.30 am – 6.00 pm, 7–18 Dec 2015
  • Who: We are looking for five dancers who were born with the XY male chromosome. ie. Male dancers or dancers born with the male XY chromosome, but who identify as being female.
  • Cost: Free.
  • Deadline for application: 19 October 2015

The five chosen applicants will join our company of nine dancers who will be working on the creative development of our new work XY.

The program will include a daily technique class in yoga and contemporary dance, followed by task-based improvisation processes with artistic director and award-winning choreographer Shaun Parker. This two-week workshop is free of charge and is invitation only, so please ensure that you submit a strong application for selection.

Shaun Parker will be using this time to develop the skills of the applicants, as well as looking for dancers for various projects for 2016 and 2017.

To apply

Please email the following material to the General Manager Sonia Grebenshikoff at: [email protected]

  • 1-page CV
  • Headshot
  • Link to edited footage of your performance work.

(Please choose carefully the footage you include, as this will be what the artistic director will be basing selection upon.)

Successful applicants notified by early November.

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Australian Talented Youth Project 2015–2016: Call for Nominations

by Ausdance published on

The Australian Talented Youth Project 2015–2016 is a creative opportunity for young emerging artists aged 16–25, with a particular emphasis on those from regional and remote Australia.

The selected young artists will be mentored by leading professionals in the various artistic fields. The year-long face-­to-face and electronic mentoring program includes a week-long residential component to be held in Canberra in February 2016, and all accommodation, catering and transportation to and from the residential component are included.

This year, mentorship is available in the following artistic fields:

  • Music (Voice)
  • Music (Jazz) (keyboard, double bass, guitar, saxophone, vocals
  • Dance
  • Filmmaking
  • Theatre/acting
  • Writing for Theatre
  • Digital Arts

Since there are only 16 places available, which are spread over the various creative and performing arts, the organisers are calling for arts organisations to nominate candidates of the highest calibre. For more information, and the nomination form, please visit the Australian Talented Youth Project website.

Nominations close 15 October 2015.

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Nominate for the 2016 Australia Council Awards

by Australia Council for the Arts published on

The Australia Council Awards recognise the significant achievements and contribution an artist has made to the vibrancy of Australian arts.

We have so many outstanding dance artists; we encourage you to nominate one for the Australia Council Award for Dance, which recognises the outstanding achievements and considerable contribution of an artist in dance. The 2015 recipient was Garry Stewart, artistic director of Australian Dance Theatre.

Nominees must not self-nominate; nominations are accepted from other individuals and organisations.

Support material includes:

  • up to two pages about the nomination
  • a CV of the nominee.

Nominations close on Thursday 12 November 2015.

As well as the significant recognition of achievement, the recipient receives $25,000.

Head over to the Australia Council Awards web page and, if you haven't already, register for access to the Australia Council for the Arts Online Systems. You'll find award nominations under the 'Grants and Reporting' menu.

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Ausdance WA seeks new Director

by Ausdance WA published on

Key information

  • Job title: Director, Ausdance WA
  • Location: King Street Arts Centre, Perth
  • Applications close 5.00 pm 16 October 2015
  • Annual salary: $60,000—$80,000

Ausdance WA exists to ensure dance is integrally embedded in the cultural life of Western Australians as an art form, career pathway, recreational pursuit and healthy life choice.

‘Lifelong Dance’ is the vision informing our strategies for the 2016-18 triennial. The proposed program of activities will realise this vision across the spectrum of professional and non-professional dance.

We are seeking a leader in program delivery, dance education and policy development to champion innovation, excellence and creativity in dance.

The successful candidate will provide a range of assistance and support to the elected Management Committee; manage the day-to-day affairs of Ausdance-WA; be accountable and responsible for the organisations financial, human and physical resources; and create and maintain effective relationships to be an active advocate and provide leadership for dance in WA.

To express your interest in this role, please email the following to [email protected]:

  • Your resume
  • A statement outlining why you would be effective in this position (max 1000).Your statement must relate to the responsibilities of the position and provide evidence indicating you have the required competencies and experience for the position.

Applications must be received by 5.00 pm 16 October 2015.

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