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Kolyang Program of Industry Development Initiatives

2024-27 Kolyang Program of Industry Development Initiatives an evolved model based on feedback and need 

Performing Lines WA is excited to announce the next chapter of our ground-breaking Kolyang Program. In 2024, the model shifts to a year-round series of offers including bespoke initiatives for artist, industry, pathway and new work development, all informed by conversations and learnings during its inaugural 3-year cycle from 2020-22.  

 Our offerings through Kolyang are made possible thanks to the generous support of the WA Government through the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries (DLGSC). 

The previous delivery model featured the Creative Hub and takeover of Subiaco Arts Centre with mid-career artists alongside an intensive specialised Artist Lab for emerging and early-career artists based on Performing Lines’ acclaimed seed residency model. Such support in this form best catered to the pandemic context and furthered the creative capacity of West Australian performance makers during such a turbulent and uncertain time for our industry. But as context has evolved, we are committed to ensuring Kolyang evolves too so it can continue to best support independent practice in Western Australia by providing opportunities and pathways towards new work creation. 

To herald this new era, we kick off partnerships and alliances with independent producers and organisations; working together to deliver focused opportunities we believe will offer fertile ground for seeding new collaborations and projects, and progress works currently in development. 2024 is focusing on trailing and experimenting new ideas and modes of delivery! We will gather and collate feedback with a commitment to refining the program structure and offerings in coming years in response to these reflections. 

We’re rolling out a series of announcements about the Kolyang initiatives and opportunities, but for now we’re thrilled to offer a taste of what the first half of 2024 holds! 

Our offers and initiatives going forwards are structured under three streams: 

  • Industry Partnerships and Pathways 
  • Paying it Forward and Supported Opportunities 
  • Focus on Practice and New Work Development 

2024

Industry Partnerships and Pathways

Centre for Stories

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 stageunderpinning 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

We are also supporting two Performance Maker Hot Desk Fellowships at the Centre for Stories, one in each half of the year. We were thrilled to announce Amri Mrisho as the first recipient and Medina Dizdarevic as the second recipient of the PLWA supported Hot Desk Fellowship with Centre for Stories!

This program, spanning 10 weeks, allows writers to work on a draft script one day a week.

Successful applicants receive a dedicated desk at Centre for Stories, alongside a $2000 stipend. They also have the opportunity to be profiled on the Centre for Stories and Performing Lines’ websites and social media, attend exclusive events and workshops, network with fellow writers, and receive guidance from the Centre for Stories staff.

The Blue Room Theatre

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 

Paying it Forward and Supported Opportunities

$5,000 BOOSTER GRANTS

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.

Perth 2024 ISPA Congress and Anthony Field Bursaries

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:

Full Congress Registration

– Rachel Arianne Ogle
– Mark Haslam

Anthony Field Academy Registration

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

Thanks to the generous support from Perth Festival, we were able to support an additional AFA placement.

Focus on Practice and New Work Development

Under Fluoros

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

On Saturday 22 June, we held our first Under Fluoros matinee showing at the Studio Underground, State Theatre Centre of WA. The event offered a behind-the-scenes look at the creative development process, with a minimalist setup and an intimate post-show discussion.

We’re excited about the potential for Under Fluoros to continue as a platform for sharing and developing new ideas.

>>Read our  news blog about the Matinee Showing

Rubibi Artist Lab

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

Together, we are launching a regional North-West iteration of the Performing Lines artist residency model, building on the success of the Kolyang Artist Labs held in Perth from 2020 to 2022. Goolarri Media will serve as our local host for this iteration, providing cultural and contextual guidance, in consultation with local organisations Theatre Kimberley and Marrugeku. PLWA will facilitate and deliver the residency model, drawing on the experiences of the Tarraleah (PL TAS) and Donnelly River (BREC) residencies. We are thrilled that the brilliant Annette Downs, who developed this model with Performing Lines TAS, will lead the facilitation of the Rubibi Artist Lab.

We are pleased to announce the cohort of participants, mentors, and observers for the Rubibi Artist Lab, taking place from 10th – 14th October 2024 in Rubibi | Broome.

Participants (Download Bios)
Anne-Janette Phillips
Rika Hamaguchi
Bernadette Trench-Thiedeman
Jael Johnson
Kimba Benjamin
Gary Hamaguchi
Hozaus Claire
Meredith Bell
Brenton McKenna
– Ngaire Pigram

Mentors
Zoe Atkinson
– Della Rae Morisson
– Sean Bacon

Observers
Chloe Ogilvie (Perth Festival)
– Philippa Maughan (CircuitWest)

Facilitators
– Annette Downs
– Shakara Walley

Coordinator and Cultural Guidance Panel Facilitator
– Della Bedford

Please contact Jen Leys on jen@performinglineswa.org.au if you have any questions regarding this initiative.

 

Restful Performance Practice

Dancing with Rest – A New Approach to Performance Making by Daisy Sanders is an article published by Performing Lines WA highlighting Daisy Sanders’ innovative creative process, which has grown and transformed within and alongside the Kolyang program.

The piece explores the profound intersection of health, resilience, and creativity in developing long-form artistic projects. Through her personal journey, Daisy illustrates how living with chronic health conditions has informed her unique approach to performance-making. The article details her decade-long integration of rest and sensitivity into her practice, showcasing how this method has allowed her to sustain and evolve her work despite limited resources. Daisy’s experience, including her times supported through the Kolyang program, highlights the necessity of adapting creative practices to accommodate personal and sectoral challenges, offering a compelling example of how resilience and adaptability can lead to transformative and meaningful artistic outcomes.

Read the full article here

2020-2022

About the first Trilogy

The Kolyang Program is many things.
It is artist led and artist responsive.
It offers space to think and explore.
It is emergent and evolving.
It is a space for experimenting with practice, process and models.
It weaves the collective industry together.
It’s about advocacy.
It’s about self-determination.
It’s about making us stronger for the future.

 

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.

Kolyang Creative Hub

Kolyang Creative Hub

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.

Eligibility

  • Open to mid-career and established artists from all artforms from Western Australia, including Perth metro and regional areas, with a specific project, skill or methodology they would like to explore;
  • Open to first-timers and previous participants;

Fees

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

2020 Cohort

Frances Barbe
Steve Berrick
Laura Boynes
Rebecca Bradley
Melissa Cantwell
Jamie David
Alex Desebrock
Chris Donnelly
Matt Edgerton
Jay Emmanuel
Emma Fishwick
Andrea Gibbs
Tarryn Gill
Pavan Hari
Jessica Harlond-Kenny
Michelle Hovane
Afeif Ismail
Francis Italiano
Georgia King
Libby Klysz
Joe Paradise Lui
Jenna Mathie
Matthew McVeigh
Fionn Mulholland
Ben Nelson
Tristan Parr
Rachel Arianne OGLE
Will O’Mahony
Katt Osborne
Sally Richardson
Daisy Sanders
Poppy Van Oorde-Grainger
Mararo Wangai
Ian Wilkes
Bryan Woltjen

2021 Cohort

Adriano Cappelletta
Alex Desebrock
Alexa Taylor
Andrea Gibbs
Annika Moses
Arielle Gray
Bobbi Henry
Brooke Leeder
Bruce Denny
Bruno Booth
Bryan Woltjen
Chrissie Parrott
Christopher Isaacs
Clare Testoni
Daisy Sanders
Daley Rangi
Elham Eshraghian-Haakansson
Ella Hetherington
Ellis Pearson
Emma Fishwick
Georgia King
Grace Chow
Ian Wilkes
Jamie David
Janet Carter
Janine Oxenham
Jen Winley
Joe Paradise Lui
Josten Myburgh
Julia Hales
Kate Page
Levon Polinelli
Libby Klysz
Mararo Wangai
Margot Edwards
Mark Haslam
Matthew McVeigh
Mel Cantwell
Mitchell Harvey
Pavan Hari
Rachael Woodward
Rachel Arianne Ogle
Rita Bush
Russell Thorpe
Sam Nerida
Siobhan Maiden
Stephanie Nicholls
Steve Berrick
Susie Conte
Talya Rubin
Tomás Ford
Will O’Mahony

2022 Cohort

Steve Berrick
Bruno Booth
Melissa Cantwell
Alex Desebrock
Jay Emmanuel
Elham Eshraghian-Haakansson
Nathan Gardiner
Bobbi-Jean Henry
Ella Hetherington
Libby Klysz
Bernadette Lewis
Nigel Luck
Talitha Maslin
Amy Mathews
Scott McArdle
Helah Milroy
Julia Moody
Jo Morris
Tegan Mulvany
Josten Myburgh
Kuda Ndlovu
Stephanie Nicholls
Rachel Arianne Ogle
Janine Oxenham
Dawn Pascoe
Rebecca Riggs-Bennett
Sky River
Bobby Russell
Daisy Sanders
Nel Simpson
Kiara Thomson

Kolyang Artist Lab

Kolyang Artist Lab

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.

Eligibility

  • Open to emerging and early-career artists from Western Australia, including both the Perth metro and regional areas.

Fees

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

2020 Cohort

Carolina Duca
Daley Rangi
Dore Khan
Elham Eshraghian-Haakansson
Grace Chow
Leon Salam
Linnea Maria
Richard Maganga
Simone Detourbet
Tinashe Jakwa

Mentors

Shakthi Shakthidharan
Anna Reece
Matt Edgerton
Shona Erskine
Zoe Atkinson
Sisonke Msimang

Curators and Facilitators

Zainab Syed
Melanie Julien-Martial

2021 Cohort

Ariana Katscherian
Asha Kiani
Charlie Yong
Crystal Nguyen
Daniel Motearefi
Laura Liu
Lisa Watson
Lucy Wong
Manjula Radha Krishnan
Medina Dizdarevic
Michele Gould
Valerie Weyland

Mentors

Annette Carmichael
Anna Reece
Clare Watson

Facilitators

Mark Howett
Michelle Hovane
Francis Italiano
Glenn Iseger-Pilkington
Shona Erskine
Kylie Bracknell
Zoe Atkinson
Shelagh Magadza
Mararo Wangai
Jay Emmanuel
Ian Wilkes

Curators and Facilitators

Zainab Syed
Melanie Julien-Martial

2022 Cohort

Adam Kelly
Crystal Nguyen
Ella Peeters
Grace King
Hugo Flavelle
Naomi Lake
Sam Ren
Sam Kerr
Sarah Pollard
Patrick Carter

Lead Mentor

Caroline Bowditch

Ally Artists

Geordie Crawley
Laura Boynes
Laura Hook
Sam Fox
Sam Nerida

Curators and Facilitators

Jeremy Smith
Simone Flavelle

Artist Advisory

Artist Advisory

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

Testimonials

“Kolyang has radically transformed the ecology of the sector, accelerating the pace of changes that are needed.”
Participant 2020 and 2021.

“It was an inspiring, creative space that allowed me to connect with other makers and arts workers. As someone who is often working alone it was energising to be in the same space as other makers.”
Tarryn Gill, participant 2020.

“I think it has helped artists feel a sense of belonging and connection. I have no doubt this has had positive impact on our mental health and resilience.”
Alex Desebrock, participant 2020, 2021, 2022.

“[The programming was] … flexible on the ground, responsive to the organic nature of the collective, warm, personable and real. [It was] incredibly well curated, organised, delivered.”
Francis Italiano, participant 2020 and 2021.

Resources

Resources

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

More Info

For more information, please contact Senior Producer, Jeremy Smith and/or Producer, Jen Leys

Jeremy Smith Senior Producer
Jen Leys Producer

Project Partners & Acknowledgements

The first three editions of Kolyang (2020-2022) have been funded by the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries, Lotterywest’s COVID Relief Fund, CircuitWest, MyPlace and a cohort of wonderful partner organisations who subsidised places for participating artists. We also appreciate significant in-kind support from our venues the Arts and Culture Trust (Subiaco Arts Centre), Fremantle Arts Centre and The Blue Room Theatre.

Performing Lines WA received funding from the Department of Local Government, Sports and Cultural Industries to extend the program in 2024-2027.

In everything we do, we acknowledge that we live on Aboriginal land and constantly learn from the wisdom of First Peoples.

Where we are and the history that precedes us informs how we work and how we move forward.