New theatre network launched

The Theatre Board of the Australia Council for the Arts is providing funding and support for the establishment of a national advocacy network for the small to medium theatre sector in Australia.

The Theatre Board of the Australia Council for the Arts is providing funding and support for the establishment of a national advocacy network for the small to medium theatre sector in Australia.

Following a consultative phase that will involve mapping the sector and establishing connections in all states and territories, the Australian Theatre Network (ATN) will help to focus the national voice of the small to medium theatre sector, one of the most vulnerable areas of the arts.

The ATN is an initiative of Theatre Network Victoria (TNV) which, according to Lyn Wallis, Director of the Australia Council’s Theatre Board, “has demonstrated good leadership and effective engagement with Victorian theatre issues at a grass roots level since it was established less than two years ago with support from Arts Victoria”. 

“And now, after many years of discussion within the industry, we believe the time is right to establish a national advocacy network and that the Theatre Network Victoria model will be equally effective at a national level,” Lyn added.

The ATN will build on TNV’s existing networks and strengthen leadership within the sector by increasing the connections between state-based advocacy groups.

It will seek opportunities to engage with the major performing arts sector and provide a conduit between the sector and the Australian Theatre Forum to be held at the Brisbane Powerhouse during the Brisbane Festival in September 2011.

“The Australian Theatre Network will provide a lightweight, flexible mechanism to help the small to medium theatre sector engage in discussion and problem solving for national issues, as well as encouraging it to increase its profile and develop a more influential voice,” said the manager of the new Australian Theatre Network, Nicole Beyer, who also manages TNV and is Chair of the Australian Theatre Forum Steering Committee.

“There is already a lot of excellent network activity happening in many other states, such as a new Theatre Council of Tasmania, and an annual theatre forum in South Australia, so this initiative will strengthen and connect with those existing endeavors, rather than replicating them.

“It’s a really exciting time for theatre in Australia.”