We have been discussing ideas and collaborative opportunities with the renowned Centre for Stories. In 2024, our focus is towards creating pathways and opportunities to seed development of universal stories for the stage – underpinning Centre for Stories’ commitment to support playwriting. We’re excited to announce two workshops in the first half of 2024, which will include breakout group activities to engage participants in creative ways. 

Workshop #1 – Journey of a Playwright & Devised Storytelling 

• Location: Centre for Stories 
• Date: 6 March 2024 
• Time: 5.30-7pm 
• Lead Artists: Jay Emmanuel and Karthika Nair (Online) 
• Up to 15 pax 

Workshop #2 – Ethics of Stories and Representation 

• Location: Centre for Stories 
• Date: Wednesday 22 May
• Time: 5.30-7pm 
• Artist: Mararo Wangai and Grace Chow
• Up to 15 pax

Hot Desk Fellowships

35 – Stories for Stage

The culmination of our workshops in partnership with Centre for Stories in the first half of the year leads us towards a showcase presentation pathway with The Blue Room Theatre,  celebrating their 35th year as Boorloo’s home of independent theatre and performance.

Poets, storytellers and interdisciplinary artists will develop and showcase ideas and reflections on seasons gone by as part of 35 – Stories to Stage at The Blue Room Theatre.

PLWA and Centre for Stories will support the development prior by providing for established artists to mentor the participating artists and help them craft their showcase reflection to share with BRT audiences.

We congratulate the recently announced cohort of artists selected from a highly talented field of applicants for this initiative:

• Ange Yang
• Apurva Gupta
• Naoko Uemoto
• Swaroopa Unni
• Vuma Phiri

35 – Stories to Stage
Blue Room Theatre
Fri 26 July and Sat 27 July, 6.30pm
Further information and tickets available here 

We are excited to announce we have three (3) $5,000 Booster Grants to be awarded in the first half of 2024. This is a one-off opportunity, made possible with support from DLGSC tied to the 2022 Kolyang Program. Due to this, it is a very quick turnaround for this opportunity. 

 This opportunity is geared towards Kolyang alumni artists and/or groups (2020-2022) for seed projects and collaborations initially explored or born of that period. Although not a huge amount, it’s a gesture to further progress these, which could include enabling a one-week development with collaborating artists, or a pre-arranged artist residency to further develop a new work. We are keen to try this idea and gauge its usefulness in the first instance, to then consider if this is something Kolyang should continue to offer the independent WA sector in future years. We’re keeping the application format simple – it’s mostly an exercise in you planning for your project and how you would best use this grant. No overthinking necessary! 

Expressions of interest for this opportunity are now closed.

Find out more about the successful recipients and their projects:

• Crystal Nguyen
  Crystal Nguyen will develop ‘Baseline,’ a solo work exploring physical recovery after rupture seeded during the Kolyang Labs 2021 and 2022. Collaborating with Sam Fox and composer Peter McAvan, she’ll blend text, movement, projected imagery and music to explore the concept of a person’s baseline.

• Ella Hetherington
  After her residency at PICA, Ella Hetherington will use the Booster Grant to reimagine her ‘Golden Hour’ set design into an art installation for non-traditional performance spaces. Commencing collaboration with Bruno Booth, whom she met at Kolyang 2022, they’ll craft a unique habitable sculpture lit by Mark Haslam and paired with Tilman’s accompanying album.

• JC
  Expanding on their residency at Fremantle Arts Centre, JC will use the insights gained to develop an immersive performance about society’s fear of falling. To support audience engagement, JC, along with collaborators Melissa Cantwell and Bernadette Lewis, will use the Booster Grant to bring in four more performers, leveraging existing funding and opportunities. Together, they’ll explore ideas for responding to falls as a group.

The International Society for the Performing Arts (ISPA) with hosts PAC Australia have launched registration details for the Perth 2024 ISPA Congress and Anthony Field Academy from Monday 29 April to Friday 3 May.  

The ISPA Congress is held twice a year, with one in New York and a second congress in a selected location around the world. These congresses bring together global leaders each year to discover the next great idea, and strengthen relationships, fostering connection and exchange. Delegates are presenters, festivals, producing companies, artist managers, consultants, government and cultural leaders. Congress programming is geared towards both established and emerging leaders from various genres and disciplines within the performing arts. 

The Perth 2024 ISPA Congress will spotlight Australian performance works and artists on an international platform. With the theme of Breakthrough, this congress will focus on real-time examples of new international models of artistic and industry transformation. This gathering of international and national delegates in Perth will be a unique and invigorating opportunity for WA artists and arts workers to connect, listen, learn and share amongst a global industry network. 

In support of this, Performing Lines through Kolyang will provide registration bursaries to enable Kolyang and Producer Forum alumni to participate in this renowned market and professional development program; 

• 5 x Registrations in the ISPA Anthony Field Academy on Mon 29 April (full day) and Tues 30 April (half day) – Valued at $184 AUD each. 
• 2 x Registrations in the full Perth ISPA Congress, including the Anthony Field Academy and all performance ticketing from Mon 29 April to Fri 3 May – Valued at $1,074 AUD each. 

Expressions of interest for this opportunity are now closed.

Successful applicants include:

Anthony Field Academy Registration

– Erin Lockyer
– Daisy Sanders
– Hannah Lee Tungate
– Siobhan Maiden
– Jay Emmanuel
– Georgia King

Team & Script Announcement

Under Fluoros is an exciting new concept by independent creative producer Libby Klysz, to be piloted and supported by Performing Lines WA as part of the 2024 Kolyang Program.

Under Fluoros is a unique first week of rehearsal process for script-to-performance exploration, where creatives gather – director, designers, performers – for expansive dreaming in a theatre with limitless potential. The week concludes with a matinee showing design ideas and a table read: sharing the big ideas, demystifying creative collaborative process and engaging the audience’s maximum imagination.

Script – The Mares, written by Kate Mulvany
Creative Producer – Libby Klysz
Director – Katt Osborne
Set & Costume Designer – Zoe Atkinson
Lighting & AV Designer – Mark Haslam
Sound Designer & Composer – Ash Gibson Grieg
Performers – Emily Brennan, St John Cowcher, Marlanie Haerewa, Theresa Jakovich and Bobby Russell

Showing details

The matinee showing is for arts and cultural industry, performance buffs, university students and anyone keen to gain insight to the rigorous creative development that goes into realising a new production of scale. No fancy lights, no real set pieces (although there may be some trickery). Under Fluoros, with a cup of tea and biscuit afterwards. Come with an open mind, ready for an inspirational ride!

Following the matinee showing, we’d love to connect with audience in the foyer and hear your thoughts in response. We hope for this inaugural event to lead to future Under Fluoros, as an exciting new independent artist and industry practice-sharing and concept development initiative.

Under Fluoros – Matinee Showing 
Studio Underground – State Theatre Centre of WA
Saturday 22 June, 12pm
Tickets are $10 (plus booking fees)

>>Read our  news blog about the Matinee Showing

Expression of interest now open

Performing Lines WA is thrilled to announce a new partnership with Goolarri Media based on stunning Yawuru country in Broome (Rubibi), as part of the 2024 Kolyang Program. Goolarri’s exceptional practice in creating First Nations content combined with PLWA’s support of performance producing services is leading to exciting new projects in development and opportunities.

We are now working together to deliver a regional North-West iteration of the Performing Lines artist residency model, to follow on from the Kolyang Artist Labs held in Perth between 2020 and 2022. Goolarri are our local host for this iteration, providing cultural and contextual guidance in consultation with local organisations Theatre Kimberley and Marrugeku, with PLWA facilitating and delivering the model based on the Tarraleah (PL TAS) and Donnelly River (BREC) residencies. We are excited to announce that the brilliant Annette Downs will be leading the facilitation of the Rubibi Artist Lab, who first developed the model at Performing Lines TAS.

Goolarri Media and Performing Lines WA are now calling for applications from WA-based performing arts practitioners from the Kimberley and neighbouring regions for the Rubibi Artist Lab, to be held in Broome from 10th – 14th October 2024.  

This is an opportunity for regionally-based artists including writers, choreographers, dancers, directors, actors, theatre makers and designers interested in live performance, to converge and explore new project ideas. As this is being hosted by Goolarri Media, First Nations artists are particularly encouraged to apply.

A range of highly skilled mentors from different arts practices across Australia are provided to work alongside Lab participants to inform project development. This 3-day immersive residency provides a supportive, creative environment to test ideas, consider new project ideas and collaborations, and explore cross art form possibilities. Costs to participate are covered, including an artist fee, travel expenses and accommodation provided in Broome.

For more information click here

Expression of Interest have closed, we are no longer accepting applications,

Please contact Jen Leys on jen@performinglineswa.org.au if you have questions regarding the Lab.

Kolyang is an innovative initiative consisting of the Kolyang Creative Hub and the Kolyang Artist Lab. These programs are developed and delivered by Performing Lines WA (PLWA) in collaboration with the independent performing arts sector in Western Australia. In response to the global impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, PLWA reached out to independent artists and producers to understand their needs. The resounding request was for flexible, artist-led time and space to come together without the pressure of performance outcomes.

Successfully executed in 2020, 2021, and 2022, these programs have continuously adapted to address the evolving needs of the sector. A core principle of the Kolyang methodology is ensuring that all participants are paid salaries for their engagement.

In 2021, a name was sought for the Creative Hub that celebrated the diversity of experiences and knowledge brought to the table by participants, the connectedness that was created and honoured the land on which the events were held. With guidance from Clint and Kylie Bracknell (language revivalists and researchers) of Boomerang and Spear, Kolyang (pron: Kol-yong), the Noongar name for the Western Australian Golden Wattle, was selected.

The Department of Local Government, Sports and Cultural Industries, through the Arts Organisation Investment Program, confirmed their ongoing support of the new look Kolyang Program of Industry Development Initiatives from 2024-27. This is great recognition of the impact the program has had across its inaugural three-year cycle. Performing Lines WA will release future plans in early 2024, and will ensure delivery will continue to happen in close collaboration with the arts sector – maintaining relevance and servicing need.

The Kolyang Creative Hub is a three-week responsive program facilitating interdisciplinary artistic practice sharing, creative developments, panels and conversations.

The Kolyang Creative Hub aims to:

• Bring artists and industry professionals together.
• Provide dedicated time and space for reflection, questioning, learning, and sharing.
• Create a future-focused platform that breaks down barriers and facilitates knowledge-sharing within the sector.
• Foster critical thinking and the development of innovative new approaches to artistic work.

Fees

Creative Hub participants are paid a stipend, which varies each year in accordance with the shape and duration of the program.

Held in conjunction with the Kolyang Creative Hub, the Kolyang Artist lab offers a safe, creative environment for WA’s emerging and early-career artists to explore ideas, build new relationships and unpack performance-making processes.

In the initial years, the Labs focused on emerging artists from First Nations and culturally diverse backgrounds. In 2022, the Lab expanded its reach to include ten early-career disabled artists working in any genre or medium.

Participants in the Lab are supported to join the Kolyang Creative Hub cohort after completing the one-week Lab.

The Artist Lab aims to:

• Bring together a cohort of emerging and early-career artists with diverse lived experiences.
• Connect artists with mentors and allies in their respective artforms.
• Provide dedicated time and space for exploring ideas, building relationships, and understanding performance-making processes.
• Support the development of innovative approaches to artistic practice.

Fees

Artist Lab participants are paid a stipend, which varies each year in accordance with the shape and duration of the program.

To ensure that the Creative Hub and Artist Lab remain artist-led, PLWA introduced an Artist Advisory Group in 2021, which continued with refreshed membership in 2022. Comprised of previous program participants, this group plays a crucial role in assessing expressions of interest, guiding programming decisions, and providing mentoring and support throughout the course of the Creative Hub. The members of the Advisory Group are re-assessed and selected by the PLWA team each year.

2021 Artist Advisory

Alex Desebrock
Daley Rangi
Grace Chow
Melissa Cantwell

2022 Artist Advisory

Melissa Cantwell
Bruno Booth
Janine Oxenham
Daisy Sanders

Reports

PLWA concluded the first trilogy by engaging Tracker Development and Black Iris Consulting to create a comprehensive set of resources that assess and showcase the remarkable outcomes and impact of this ground-breaking program. Our resources consist of a 44-page evaluation and impact report, along with two highlight reels – one for the Creative Hub and one for the Artist Lab.

Public Program Podcast

Each year, the Kolyang Creative Hub features a thoughtfully curated public program of engaging events, including small-group discussions, long tables and panel conversations. These sessions are centered around topics put forward by the cohort, ensuring their relevance and significance. To provide wider access to these valuable conversations, selected sessions from both 2021 and 2022 were recorded and are now accessible through our public podcast channel. You can listen to them at https://anchor.fm/kolyang.

Sector Conversations

A key focus of Kolyang in 2021 was to strengthen the sector by engaging in sector-wide discussions and bold conversations, and collectively suggest actions to make our industry stronger and more cohesive. Dr. Shona Erskine compiled a comprehensive report that highlights the significant findings and recommendations derived from the Kolyang Sector Conversation. This report was presented to the wider sector in collaboration with the Chamber of Arts and Culture Western Australia, solidifying our commitment to fostering a thriving industry.

>> Read Kolyang Sector conversation report