State-Wide Arts & Cultural Sector Day
For the past 17 years Performing Lines TAS has taken an industry, rather than an enterprise approach to the sector. In addition to our residencies, that generate works often produced by peer companies and/or festivals, we now host an annual Sector Day.
Representatives from both the State and Federal arts funding bodies attend, as do the Artistic Directors of all the funded performing arts companies, CEO’s of presenting organisations, Festival Directors and key independent artists. The focus of the event is flexible so that it can include break-out discussions with interest groups, introductions of new artists and company visions and challenging issues for the sector.
In November 2023 we will be running a series of break-out groups on topics the sector identified at the 2022 event including, regional touring, First Nations collaborations, the need for more producers for independent artists, the impact of the great resignation, shortages of tech staff, etc.
Past events have resulted in targeted events responding to sector needs. This included sector specific Mental health training funded by Arts Tasmania for state-wide delivery.
Each year, we partner with a different organisation to move the event around the island. In 2022 it was in Launceston and in 2023 the Theatre Royal will host us in Hobart. The gathering helps introduce new artistic directors to their colleagues. A day of sharing our ideas, concerns, challenges and aspirations has proven to be a valued and rejuvenating gathering in the year for the participants. It also provides an invaluable overview for Australia Council staff who rarely get the opportunity to gain detailed knowledge of their regional colleagues.
