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| Australian Performing Arts Market | |
|---|---|
| Name | Australian Performing Arts Market |
| Type | Industry event |
| Founded | 1990s |
| Location | Australia |
| Frequency | Annual |
Australian Performing Arts Market is a central hub for the presentation, sales and internationalisation of Australian performing arts productions, bringing together producers, presenters, agents and funders from across Australia and the world. It functions as a marketplace and networking forum linking creative companies, presenters and cultural institutions with festival directors, tour promoters and commissioning bodies from regions including Asia, Europe, North America, South America and Africa. The Market intersects with major cultural organisations, funding bodies and education providers to influence touring circuits, programming choices and artistic careers.
The Market convenes stakeholders such as producers from Sydney Theatre Company, Belvoir St Theatre, Melbourne Theatre Company, Bangarra Dance Theatre and Circa Contemporary Circus alongside presenters from Arts Centre Melbourne, Carriageworks, Adelaide Festival Centre, Queensland Performing Arts Centre and international houses like Barbican Centre, Lincoln Center, Southbank Centre and Festival d'Avignon. Delegates include commissioning bodies such as Australia Council for the Arts, Create NSW, Creative Victoria, Arts Queensland and international partners like British Council, Goethe-Institut, Alliance Française and Australia-Asia Arts Network. The Market promotes works by artists and companies linked to venues like Sydney Opera House, Melbourne Recital Centre, Perth Concert Hall and festivals including Melbourne International Arts Festival, Adelaide Festival, Brisbane Festival, Dark Mofo, WOMADelaide and Tamworth Country Music Festival.
Origins trace to national industry gatherings in the 1990s and early 2000s alongside initiatives by Australia Council for the Arts and state arts agencies such as Create NSW and Creative Victoria. The Market evolved amid policy shifts following inquiries like the Australia Council Funding Review and events including collaborations with Asia-Pacific Performing Arts Market partners and exchange programs with Japan Foundation, Asia Culture Center and Asia-Europe Foundation. Key developments intersected with touring milestones by companies such as Sydney Dance Company, Company B (Belvoir), Griffin Theatre Company and international co-productions with houses like Theatre du Chatelet and Malthouse Theatre.
Core sectors represented include theatre companies (e.g. Melbourne Theatre Company, Bell Shakespeare), dance companies (Sydney Dance Company, Chunky Move), circus and physical theatre (Circa Contemporary Circus, Gravity & Other Myths), indigenous performing arts (Bangarra Dance Theatre, Ilbijerri Theatre Company), music presenters (APRA AMCOS, Deadly Vibe partnerships), and independent producers from DIY venues like La Mama Theatre and 45 Downstairs. Service organisations include unions and peak bodies such as Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance, Live Performance Australia, Independent Theatre Council of NSW and advocacy groups like Australian Performing Arts Centres Association.
Funding streams presented at the Market involve federal and state agencies: Australia Council for the Arts, Create NSW, Creative Victoria, Arts SA, Arts Queensland, Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications policy frameworks, and philanthropic funders including Besant Family Foundation partners and trusts like Australia Foundation for Culture and the Arts. Regulatory touchpoints include licensing with organisations like APRA AMCOS, compliance with standards from Safe Work Australia in live performance, and international export support via Export Market Development Grants and trade offices such as Austrade.
The Market interfaces with signature festivals and venues: Adelaide Festival, Melbourne International Arts Festival, Sydney Festival, Brisbane Festival, MONA FOMA, Hobart Festival, and venues like Sydney Opera House, Arts Centre Melbourne, State Theatre Company of South Australia stages, and independent hubs such as Carriageworks, Fortyfivedownstairs, Malthouse Theatre and The Substation. It dovetails with events like Perth International Arts Festival, Sydney Fringe Festival, Melbourne International Comedy Festival and touring showcases coordinated with British Council and Australia Council international strategies.
Economic data discussed at the Market commonly references ticketing agencies like Ticketmaster, TryBooking and funding reports from Australia Council for the Arts and state agencies. Trends include regional touring patterns affecting presenters from Regional Arts Australia and box-office movements in metropolitan centres such as Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth. Audience-facing initiatives feature partnerships with media outlets like ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), SBS (Special Broadcasting Service), commercial broadcasters including Channel Seven, Ten Network Holdings and streaming platforms collaborating with cultural institutions.
The Market engages with tertiary and training institutions: National Institute of Dramatic Art, Victorian College of the Arts, Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, Australian Institute of Music, Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University and community training bodies such as TAFE NSW. Workforce development involves discussions with unions and sector training providers like Live Performance Australia, APRA AMCOS and Screen Producers Australia on skills pathways, apprenticeships and career progression for practitioners affiliated with companies like Sydney Theatre Company, Belvoir St Theatre and Bangarra Dance Theatre.
Key challenges addressed include recovery strategies post-global disruptions such as events impacting touring by COVID-19 pandemic responses, visa and mobility concerns involving Department of Home Affairs policy, sustainability initiatives linked to Green Music Australia and touring logistics with freight partners and customs procedures at Australian Border Force. Future directions emphasise international partnerships with organisations like British Council, Asia-Europe Foundation, Japan Foundation, diversification of revenue via philanthropic models exemplified by Sidney Myer Fund, digital innovation collaborations with broadcasters like ABC and sector advocacy through peak bodies such as Live Performance Australia and Australia Council for the Arts.
Category:Performing arts in Australia