Connecting with our members
We sure do get around – over the course of the last couple of months we’ve traveled inter-state and overseas to see our PAC Australia family and listen to the industry at large. We presented and hosted a number of events to share with you our efforts in advocacy and professional development.
PANNZ
A quick pitstop over the ditch to the Performing Arts Network New Zealand (PANNZ) arts market provided opportunities for a whole gamut of discussions about collaboration. Meeting with our counterparts from NZ and Canada provided a frame of reference that continues to inform our own program design. Together with Alison Dalziel from localise we presented a workshop with a number of arts centre managers and Creative New Zealand representatives based on Performing Spaces, our Local Government guide for creating well-being, created in partnership with CircuitWest. And let’s just put it out there, these guys are amazing leaders in regard to putting First Nations first.
VAPAC
The VAPAC’s managers’ meeting was the model of a connected network…talk about making things happen! The meeting aimed to build an understanding with stakeholders as to the value of the arts not only to community but also with funders. Julian Meyrick’s address noted that the major problem facing Australian culture today is demonstrating its value – to governments, the business sector, and the public in general. Complemented by the magnificent Peter Steidl, this was an outstanding event.
Stage Queensland
Stage Queensland’s manager’s conference really lifted the bar – with Steven Wolff as thinker-in-residence and driving discussions about purpose-driven anchor organisations, this was world-class professional development. It was also excellent to see first-hand the extraordinary new Cairns Performing Arts Centre; a building that gives itself to connecting.