Background

P.A.I.D. (Performing Arts Industry Development) is an initiative advocating for greater support for the professional performing arts sector in the ACT and Southern NSW region.

Dianna Nixon has worked in this region for the past 22 years, and her observations are that we are no closer to having a thriving professional sector than we were 22 years ago. This is despite the stellar work of many artists who make this region their home. In fact, they make their excellent work in the face of underwhelming support.

What the region has done is focus a lot of resources on entry-level activity, community programs and amateur companies. This is important to do, as we know the arts is of huge benefit to anyone at any age, and increasing participation and access was something that needed to happen. Job done. Many opportunities are being supported. Many of them with professional artists leading the activity.

However, there is much more we could be doing in this region. We could lobby and smooth the way for more film and TV projects for a start. That would bring jobs, and demand for location services, catering, accommodation, extras casting and more. With an incredible array of possible locations – landscape or built infrastructure – the region is ideal for film. So where are the return productions?

We’ve an international airport in Canberra that could fly more tourists in for cultural adventures. Currently many people do come to see the collecting institutions, but what if Canberra had long-running commercial musicals? And higher profile performance events that had international standing? These tourists might stay longer, come more often. Many people from our region travel to other capitals to see big shows, but could we strengthen the trend in our direction?

The new lyric theatre planned for Canberra should be the jewel in the crown of professional performing arts practice in the region. Once it is open we should start to see other activities grow around it.

But that’s a few years away, and we are tired of waiting for brave, ingenious strategic action. So – MTP are talking to a range of professionals in the sector to invite them to participate in a Roundtable in July this year. These artists work across the performing arts – live and recorded – and all have national and international experience, and work full time in their field.

Project Status

Dianna is meeting with a range of remarkable people who have close ties to this region. Prior to these one-on-one meetings she tested this idea with a group of key arts leaders, fine-tuning her assessment of the sector (and the provocations for these conversations) with their input.

Once the individual meetings are finished, and the group for the Roundtable is confirmed, we need to find funding support for the event in July. It is a discussion focussed on economic development, so we’ll be look to business sources for the support we need to run this event.

Collaborators

We’ll announce the names and details of the Roundtable members once we have them all confirmed and our funding in place.

Work-In-Progress 

Meetings underway

Important dates and activities

More info soon.