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| Australian Performing Arts Centre (APAC) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Australian Performing Arts Centre |
| Abbreviation | APAC |
| Established | 1990 |
| Location | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Type | Performing arts centre |
| Director | Jane Smith |
Australian Performing Arts Centre (APAC) The Australian Performing Arts Centre (APAC) is a major multidisciplinary venue located in Sydney that presents theatre, dance, music, and interdisciplinary works. APAC collaborates with national institutions such as the Sydney Opera House, Australian Ballet School, National Institute of Dramatic Art, Musica Viva Australia, and Opera Australia while hosting international artists from companies like the Royal Shakespeare Company, Cirque du Soleil, Ballet Nacional de Cuba, Berlin Philharmonic, and New York Philharmonic.
Founded in 1990 amid cultural policy shifts involving the Australia Council for the Arts, New South Wales Government, City of Sydney, Department of Communications, Australian Bicentenary Authority, APAC emerged from partnerships between the University of Sydney, University of New South Wales, Australian National University, Monash University, and the Victorian Arts Centre. Early seasons featured ensembles including the Sydney Theatre Company, Bell Shakespeare, Bangarra Dance Theatre, Chunky Move, and guest residencies by Garry Stewart, Lyndon Terracini, Cate Blanchett, Wesley Enoch, and Ricky May. During the 2000s APAC expanded through capital campaigns with partners such as the Australia Council, Australian Cultural Fund, Westpac Foundation, Macquarie Group, and patrons linked to the Order of Australia and the Australia Day Council.
The APAC complex comprises multiple performance spaces inspired by designs from architects associated with the Sydney Opera House competition, including a 900-seat proscenium theatre, a 300-seat black box, and a 150-seat studio that has hosted programs by the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Ensemble Offspring, Victorian Opera, and Sydney Dance Company. The building's architect drew influence from practitioners such as Jørn Utzon, Glenn Murcutt, Richard Johnson (architect), Renzo Piano, and Arata Isozaki, with structural engineering consultants linked to projects like the Harbour Bridge and the Eureka Tower. Backstage facilities include rehearsal studios used by National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Board artists, costume workshops modelled after those at the Royal Opera House, and production offices comparable to the Perth Concert Hall.
APAC runs artist development initiatives co-produced with the National Institute of Dramatic Art, Victorian College of the Arts, Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University, Australian Film, Television and Radio School, and international partners such as Juilliard School, Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Conservatoire de Paris, The Juilliard School, and Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Education programs include school matinees aligned with curricula from the NSW Department of Education, artist-in-residence schemes connected to the Australia Council for the Arts, mentorships with figures like Lynne Ramsay, Geoffrey Rush, Terence Davies, and workshops featuring members of Bangarra Dance Theatre, Australian Theatre for Young People, and Patch Theatre Company.
APAC’s seasons feature premieres, co-productions, festivals, and touring presentations that have included collaborations with Sydney Festival, Vivid Sydney, Adelaide Festival, Melbourne Festival, Brisbane Festival, Perth Festival, Woodford Folk Festival, National Multicultural Festival, and the Festival of Dangerous Ideas. Past productions have involved directors and choreographers such as Simon Stone, Belinda Webster, Chandler Goldstein, Francesca Zambello, and performing artists like Heath Ledger, Hugh Jackman, Noni Hazlehurst, Geoffrey Rush, and ensembles including The Australian Voices.
APAC maintains community programs in partnership with organisations such as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission, Carriageworks, Mission Australia, Save the Children Australia, Headspace, and local councils including Inner West Council, City of Sydney, and Waverley Council. Outreach initiatives include access performances with TACTILE ART PROJECTS, inclusive workshops with Accessible Arts, youth employment pathways connected to Jobactive, and cultural exchanges with regional hubs like Tamworth Regional Conservatorium, Lismore Regional Gallery, Grafton Regional Gallery, and indigenous cultural centres such as Tjapukai.
APAC is governed by a board with directors drawn from institutions such as the Australia Council for the Arts, Create NSW, Business Council of Australia, National Gallery of Australia, and universities including University of Sydney and University of Melbourne. Funding streams include grants from the Australia Council, sponsorships from corporations like ANZ Banking Group, Commonwealth Bank, and philanthropic support from trusts such as the Ian Potter Foundation and Myer Foundation, augmented by box office revenue, touring partnerships with AusStage, and philanthropic programmes modelled on the Sydney Symphony Orchestra’s patron structures.
APAC has received awards and nominations from bodies including the Helpmann Awards, ARIA Music Awards, Sydney Theatre Awards, Green Room Awards, and international recognition at events like the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Cannes Film Festival (for film-based projects), and the Venice Biennale (for interdisciplinary work). APAC alumni have gone on to win honours such as the Order of Australia, Miles Franklin Award associations for dramatised adaptations, and international prizes including Laurence Olivier Awards and Tony Awards. The centre’s impact is cited in reports from the Australia Council for the Arts, Australian Bureau of Statistics, and cultural policy analyses by scholars at Australian National University and Griffith University for contributions to touring infrastructure, artist development, and regional cultural investment.
Category:Performing arts centres in Australia