Arts Centre Melbourne’s stage production training program wins national innovation award

A trailblazing stage production training program developed by Arts Centre Melbourne and delivered in partnership with Stage Qldand Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) – has been recognised at the 2023 PAC Australia IMPACT Awards.

Tech Connect QLD was named the winner of the Innovation Award at a ceremony in Cairns as part of the Australian Performing Arts Exchange (APAX).

Tech Connect QLD delivers accredited industry training that creates sustainable employment pathways for young technical crews within the arts sector to deliver the next generation of theatre technicians. The training model combines formal classroom-based study with structured mentoring in theatres enabling trainees to work alongside the industry’s top technical specialists, directors, designers and performers.

Tech Connect QLD is the first collaboration of its kind, delivered in partnership between Arts Centre Melbourne, QPAC & Stage QLD; with QPAC supplying venue and production facilities and Stage QLD delivering vital membership communications.

Arts Centre Melbourne Senior Manager, Technical Training & Development Murray Johnstone:

He was “immensely proud” to accept the award alongside program partners Stage Qld and QPAC.

This award could not have been possible without the generosity and support from our incredible funders, The Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation.

The success of these programs being recognised here is not only a credit to us all, but to our industry as a whole, as together we look to ways like this to support our current and future generations of technical production crew at this crucial time.

Tech Connect QLD was nominated by the Empire Theatre, Toowoomba, where two trainees in the program are enrolled.

In 2022 and 2023, 32 senior production staff from venues across the Queensland network have received formalised recognition of prior learning and the required additional training to achieve Certificate IV level qualifications in Live Production and Technical Services. These technicians can now provide workplace mentorship and support to 12 trainees which have been employed in nine performing arts centres across Queensland this year.

PAC Australia is the national peak body representing and supporting performing arts presenters, venues, producers and creators in Australia by providing leadership, building capacity and facilitating relationships that strengthen the connection between the art and the audience.

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