Announcement: PLWA’s ambitious Creative Hub provides employment for 84 Arts workers

Over the last few months, and in response to the global crisis, Performing Lines WA have been busy plotting an exciting new program. The PLWA Creative Hub has been directly informed by feedback from the WA community of artists, producers and presenters.

Supported by LotteryWest and taking place at Subiaco Arts Centre, this program features a number of new initiatives and opportunities to upskill the WA artistic community. Our secret desire is to provoke new connections, collaborations and ways of making work, whilst providing space and time for the artists to energise and be creative.

More than 84 artists and art workers across the State will be employed, positioning PLWA as an instrumental and responsive instigator of innovative models and artistic projects within our industry.

Artist Lab

July 13^th to August 8^th, 2020

Taking place over 4 weeks, 35 of WA’s most exciting independent artists and producers will interact at Subiaco Arts Centre. Focused on all the lead artists we were meant to be working with this year, plus some mid-career artists we’ve been supporting in different ways, the artist lab will allow them to cross-collaborate, provoke and feedback on each-others ideas whilst accessing PLWA’s considerable producing expertise.⁣

With no outcomes required, the cohort will have the freedom to work on new ideas, explore different ways of working in response to COVID or continue the development of existing work.⁣

As part of the Artist Lab, we are also inviting key industry leaders to speak on pressing issues or new ways of working.⁣

Each week, we will have a curated program of workshops, small group discussions and guest speaker sessions. To view the weekly program** and register for the sessions open to the public, click on the link below. Limited capacity per sessions.⁣

Full Program and Registration**

**This includes the first two weeks only. The program for the following two weeks will be released soon.

WA Connect

Wednesday 22^nd July, 2020, 12-6pm.

We have partnered with CircuitWest to host a sector-wide gathering with regional presenters, artists and producers to discuss the challenges of our current situation and how we might be able to move forward together – providing an informed context for developing new creative projects and opening potential pathways within our state.

Culturally Diverse Artist Lab

July 23rd- 27th, 2020

Inspired by Tasmania Performs’ Tarraleah artist residency, this intensive 4-day weekend will invite 11 emerging culturally diverse artists from WA to explore and work on their own project idea in a supportive environment. Each artist will be upskilled in the artistic process of creating work and introduced to key industry mentors, leaders and presenters.

This one-of-kind residency will be punctuated with sessions, workshops and conversations involving big questions about Values, Integrity & Intention, Parallel Solidarities & Cultural Safety as well as the practical aspects of the creative and collaborative process.

Producer Lab

August-September

Through a bespoke training program, 12 independent/emerging producers and self-producing artists will learn the nuts and bolts of creating and delivering new artistic work. Led by PLWA producer Jen Leys in partnership with CircuitWest and Yirra Yaakin Theatre. The Lab will include up to 5 regional WA self-producing venues in the cohort who are ready to create new work with local artists. This serves to help in connecting communities whilst acknowledging the restrictions around borders and touring.⁣
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Further info and EOI to participate in our Producer Lab coming soon.⁣

Creative Developments

Three new works will continue development towards production to be ready for presentation in early 2021. Black Brass (by Mararo Wangai), Galup (by Ian Wilkes and Poppy Van-Oorde Grainger) and Children of the Sea (by Jay Emmanuel) are works created by Indigenous and culturally diverse artists and celebrate stories and audiences who do not often see themselves represented in a theatrical context. These works are important mechanisms for connecting communities post-Covid.