Registrations for National Dance Forum 2017 have opened. The last three forums have sold out in advance, so book early to make sure you're part of the most important dance discussion in Australia. Register here
Registrations open for National Dance Forum 2017
First National Dance Forum 2017 speakers announced
We know the dance sector wants a chance to share, inspire, connect and to be inspired by the whole dance industry—that includes the broader ecology, from independents to majors. At NDF 2017 we'll hear inspiring talks from our National Dance Forum 2017 speakers.
Here are our first speakers for this year's forum.
2017 Australian Dance Awards shortlist
Congratulations to the shortlisted nominees for one of the country’s most prestigious performing arts awards. The Australian Dance Awards recognise and honour outstanding achievement.
iD by Bangarra Dance Theatre. Choreographed by Stephen Page. Photography by Jeff BusbyCall for expressions of interest—present at National Dance Forum 2017
2017 National Dance Forum
25–26 September, Victorian College of the Arts
Photo: Sydney Dance Company. Gideon Obarzanek’s L’Chaim! Photo by Wendell Teodoro.Ausdance President’s report – July 2017
The Ausdance National board has been very busy these past couple of months, in-between meeting for a second time in early June and planning for our next meeting on 23 July 2017. These regular meetings have enabled a range of initiatives to be implemented which have included:
- working with the Australian Major Performing Arts Group (AMPAG) on a joint submission in addition to an individual Ausdance submission regarding VET Student Loans
- clarifying and streamlining roles and responsibilities for our Ausdance National office team across administration and marketing areas
- the establishment of Board Subcommittees with key board members being tasked with responsibility for actively supporting and driving identified priority areas
- the launch of our fundraising campaign with the fabulous support of past life members Shane Colquhoun and Julie Dyson
- the activation of the National Dance Forum advisory panel including initial curation and program scheduling
- the ongoing planning and securement of sponsorship support for the Australian Dance Awards in collaboration with Ausdance VIC.
ArtsPeak update—July 2017
Australia Council's National Service Organisation scan
The Australia Council has finally completed the desktop scan of national service organisations that analyses 111 arts organisations, covering all states and territories and artistic disciplines.
Of the analysed organisations:
- 97% engage in member communication activities including newsletters, social media, and journals
- 83% deliver capacity building activities
- 43% engage in advocacy
- 36% undertake research and evaluation
The research is of particular interest to Ausdance National, following its loss of Australia Council operational funding last year—we definitely fulfil all of the activities listed above! The Council notes that it won’t be undertaking any specific communications related to the scan, but sees it as one of the many resources available on its website.
World Dance Alliance Asia Pacific—July 2017 update
The 2017 WDA Global Summit will be held in St John’s, Newfoundland, from 24–28 July, with a full program of performances, scholarly papers and workshops, including a Choreolab. The timetable is still being developed, but you can read the exciting program that includes several Australian presenters, among them Assoc. Professor Cheryl Stock AM, who has just stepped down as the WDA’s inaugural Secretary-General.
National Advocates for Arts Education July 2017 update
The National Advocates for Arts Education (NAAE) met with several key groups and individuals in Canberra on 19 and 20 June.
Members of National Advocates for Arts Education outside Parliament House, Canberra. L to R: John Saunders (Drama Australia), Richard Letts (The Music Trust), Derek Weeks (Australian Teachers of Media - ATOM), Tamara Winikoff (NAVA), Roger Dunscombe (ATOM), Julie Dyson (NAAE chair), Sue Fox (Ausdance).We were especially encouraged by our meeting with officers from the Department of Communications and the Arts, Rebecca Rush, Mark Gordon and Stella Jones, and with officers from the Department of Education & Training, Cris Castro and Eleanor Newby. We were able to follow up on our previous submissions regarding the loss of VET FEE-HELP for arts courses (575 Kb PDF) and with further discussions about advancing the STEAM agenda.
Arts education advocates question VET Student Loans methodology
The NAAE supports the review of the VET FEE-HELP rules, and understands the need to weed out those rorting the system and those private providers delivering sub-standard courses in line with Australian Quality Framework (AQF) that applies to all post-compulsory education. However, we have major concerns about the methodology used to identify courses that will no longer qualify for government assistance, and take this opportunity to provide information that may not have been available earlier.
NAAE noted firstly that the department must take account of poorer SES students who may use VET courses as a gateway to university study. If reputable RTOs offering arts courses are eliminated, these opportunities will immediately disadvantage some students, particularly those from regional and remote schools where the arts have been a major factor in eliminating poor attendance records, and where career pathways in the arts are identified.
NAAE also questioned why some previously eliminated providers are already back on the list, and yet the larger reputable TAFEs and arts training institutions are not. NAAE would like to know what criteria were used to make these decisions.
In response to a question about whether there was another sector like the Arts, NAAE noted that the arts industry was unique in the ways in which it trained and employed artists.