Closing date: 10 November 2010
Decisions advised: Feb 2011
Projects may start: 1 March 2011

In 2010, the Theatre Board’s skills and artform development categories will be focused on the development and strengthening of leadership capacity within the theatre sector.

Cultural Leadership Skills grants will support individuals to undertake programs that develop leadership skills and experiences within their chosen areas of practice.

Cultural Leadership Program grants will support organisations to deliver activities and programs that target the development of leadership skills, and the distribution of leadership, within the theatre sector. 

The purpose of the Cultural Leadership Skills Development grants is to provide support for potential and future artistic leaders to pursue a program of personal development that strengthens their capacity to provide leadership for, and/or distribute leadership within, their chosen area of practice.

Whilst outstanding one-off opportunities may be supported, our priority is to assist theatre workers who have devised strategic programs of leadership development activity.  

You may apply for up to $20,000 to fund part or all of your personal leadership program activities. An individual’s program could include national or international activities such as: secondments or residencies, mentorship programs, training opportunities, community consultation or research periods. Applicants must demonstrate that these activities would specifically contribute to leadership capacity beyond regular up-skilling, and that they have opportunity to implement these leadership skills within the sector.   

Applications can be for any field or focus of theatre sector practice. The Theatre Board is particularly interested in supporting diversity in leadership, and developing areas where leadership capacity is under-developed or fragile.  

You may wish to refer to the Australia Council's cultural engagement framework, which encompasses eight strategies that reflect our commitment to creating opportunities for all Australians to participate in our cultural life.

• An artistic rationale for the activity as a vital contribution to the development of high quality contemporary theatre including:
• potential for leadership  development of the individual
• potential to strengthen leadership capacity within the theatre sector
• Artistic or professional skills appropriate to the activity
• Contribution to the diversity of Australian theatre
• Good planning and effective use of resources.

You must submit evidence of your eligibility and the required support material as part of the application.
 
The required support material you must submit by 10 November is:

• Written confirmation of availability/support from individuals and organisations involved in your program. Letters of invitation (for secondments etc) should be provided where appropriate.
• Two support letters from creative leaders you have worked with.
• When proposals are submitted from organisations or individuals that involve companies funded by the major performing arts board (MPAB), a letter of agreement between the applicant and the MPAB-funded company must be provided to both the MPAB and this board. For further details, click here
  
• In line with the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts policy and its underpinning principles, the Australia Council requires that applications for projects containing representations of artistic/cultural practice or intended outcomes relating to Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander artists or communities must provide letters from relevant communities or artists. Letters must show clear evidence of support and agreement for the activities undertaken. In preparing your application, you may wish to consult the Indigenous protocol guides in song, performance, writing, new media and visual arts (hard copies are available from the Australia Council).

• Documents – .pdf, .doc, .docx, .xls, .xlsx
• Each file you attach can be no more than 10mb in size.

If you need help determining the support material you are required to submit or when it must be submitted, please contact Theatre staff.

If you are unable to upload your support material, you may post it to us by the closing date.

Unless you make a specific request to Theatre staff for the return of your support material, it will be disposed of 45 days after you are advised of the outcome of your application.