APAX 2021: Sessions on Demand

In 2021 the Australian Performing Arts Exchange was delivered online from 7 – 10 September. Scroll down to watch key sessions from the program.

Artist, Artistic Director, CEO, thought-leader. If there’s anyone who can speak to what a thriving arts organisation looks like, and what a thriving sector could look like, it’s none other than Yaron Lifschitz, Artistic Director & CEO of CIRCA.

APAX 2021 wrapped up with our annual State of the Art address.

Presented by Alana Valentine, Playwright, Screenwriter and Librettist.

Using outcomes from an Australian Council Research Project (2019-2022) and investigating the impact of arts and cultural engagement in regional Australian communities, Thriving Communities examines two community-initiated projects to illustrate how creative and cultural activities maintain social connection, avoid potential social fragmentation, support wellbeing and allow communities to thrive. The session builds your tool kit in articulating the value of what you do and the role the performing arts must continue to play in communities in these critical years to come.

Presented by Dr Sandra Gattenhof and Dr Donna Hancox, with Peter Ross.

A New Approach is an independent think tank, championing effective investment and return in Australian arts and culture. Their evidence-based series of Insight Reports explores why and how governments, philanthropists, communities, businesses and individuals invest in arts and culture; what benefits and impacts this generates; and how we can ensure this investment is relevant and effective. The reports provide data analysis, expert commentary and evidence-based recommendations that are not bound by government, jurisdiction, funding mechanism or artform.

The discussion in this timely and practical session centres around creating work and finding audiences, taking a specific look at queer work and CaLD stories, and how genuine audience engagement and attendance is attracting younger, diverse people on and behind the stages (and also in our audiences). Joanne Kee and Dino Dimitriadis share how this authenticity has lead to sold out seasons, and is building new audiences.

Presented by Joanne Kee and Dino Dimitriadis. 

In this session, Liza-Mare Syron presents her leadership research on Indigenous Language Revival in Play Texts, exploring the complex and deeply important role of theatre in the revitalisation of native languages.

BlakForm is a groundbreaking career development platform supporting established First Nations dance makers, enabling them to drive the development of their work to reach more audiences and communities locally, nationally and globally.

Presented by Paul McGill and Joshua Pether.

If 2020 taught us anything, it’s that everyone who works in the arts sector is an advocate for what we do, whether that is a formal position we can take or not. So how do we use our positions to advocate and articulate the value of what we do? Particularly in regional communities how can arts leaders tell their story? Beyond the economic impact and the number of bums of seats, how do we make better cases and count what counts?

Presented by Helen O’Neil (Chair, PAC Australia), Nicholas Pickard and Francesca Valmorbida.

APAX 2020

Dr Jason Fox provides thoughtful provocations to those leading their organisations through the current complex, ambiguous and doubt-ridden environment – a refreshing mix of perspectives designed to cut through the myths that surround ‘the future of leadership’. This bold and though-provoking keynote will spark new conversations amongst our arts leaders, and provide a philosophical antidote to ‘change fatigue’.

With strong foresight and sincere intentionality, Performing Lines WA are leading the way in realising a diverse and representative arts sector. In this session, PLWA Producer Zainab Syed shares the experience of producing the cross-cultural collaboration Layla Majnun – one of the most world’s most widely known and celebrated stories, but one which has rarely been told on Australian stages – and discusses what this has meant for increasing participation and developing new audiences.

Presented by Zainab Syed and Lena Nahlous.

Explore the art of relevance – or, how your work can resonate more in your community. It’s one thing to understand the value of the performing arts, it’s another to practically implement more effective experiences that builds social capital and increases the value of your organisation. Presented by Nina Simon, Spacemaker & CEO, OF/BY/FOR ALL.

Part marketer, consumer psychologist and futurist, Adam Williams’ bespoke presentations focus on the key challenges of audiences, and provides research-based, actionable insights into overcoming those barriers.