International performing arts markets- travel fund

The Australia Council’s market development section aims to create more demand for Australian contemporary arts through supporting the promotion of Australian contemporary arts and the development of new markets and audiences; in Australia and internationally.

Market development will co-ordinate an Australian presence at a range of international performing arts markets in 2008/09 to increase international touring opportunities for Australian contemporary performing arts.

These include;

CINARS: International Exchange for the Performing Arts: 17 – 23 November 2008, Montreal, Canada
Including a booth, delegation and promotional activities.

APAP: Association of Performing Arts Presenters Conference: 9 -13 January 2009, New York, USA
Including a booth, delegation and promotional activities.

WAA: Western Arts Alliance Conference: 31 August – 4 September 2009, Phoenix, USA
Including a booth, delegation and promotional activities.

PAMS: Performing Arts Market Seoul: early October 2009, Seoul, South Korea
Including a delegation and  promotional activities.

There are numerous international performing arts markets staged throughout the year:

• Market development will respond to travel requests for other key international performing arts markets where applicants have an existing relationship to the market.
• Travel support for these market events is available on a case-by-case basis, tied to the assessment criteria and available resources.

Please refer to the OzArts Directory for details of other international performing arts markets:  www.ozarts.com.au

The list of markets where market development co-ordinates an Australian presence will be updated each financial year to respond to market changes and sector priorities.

In addition, market development will co-ordinate an Australian presence within the IETM Network at both the Autumn Plenary (6-9 November 2008, Zurich, Switzerland) and Spring Plenary (May 2009, location TBC). Given this is not a performing arts market, market development will continue discussions with IETM and the sector, based upon previous engagement with this network, to coordinate the Australian presence at the November and May meetings.

HOW TO APPLY

Australian independent producers, tour managers and/or company and artist representatives can apply for travel support to a maximum of AU$4,000 per event.

Please note that companies and artists who have secured showcase opportunities at CINARS, APAP, WAA and PAMS should contact market development staff to discuss possible funding opportunities.

To apply for travel support, applicants must submit three copies of the following:

1. Signed application form (attached to these guidelines).

2. A statement of claims against the following assessment criteria:

• a)The impact attendance at the market will have on developing future international touring opportunities for the company, artist and/or work(s) represented.

Please include: (i) a brief market development strategy for the target market outlining the relevancy of the company and/or work within this market; and, (ii) details on the type of venue, festival or promoter you are targeting demonstrating knowledge of the market and/or existing relationship to the market.

• b) The export-readiness of the company or artist and the capacity to follow up on opportunities resulting from attendance at the market.

Applicants who have limited experience in international touring will need to demonstrate that they have the infrastructure to respond to any outcomes as a result of attendance at the market.

3.  One copy of your promotional pack for the company/artist represented at the market including materials specific to the work(s) promoted at the market.

ASSESSMENT OF APPLICATION AND DEADLINES

Australia Council staff will review the travel requests against the assessment criteria above. Up to six delegates will be supported to attend each of the markets listed. In addition, market development will invite one or two key programmers from the sector to join the delegation in order to increase visibility, audience knowledge and appreciation of Australian contemporary performing arts.

While your application may meet the stated assessment criteria, you are not guaranteed travel support. Support from this travel fund rests on the merits of the proposal against the stated assessment criteria in competition with other applicants and available resources.

There are two application deadlines:

12 September 2008;  CINARS and APAP application deadline.

13 April 2009; WAA and PAMS application deadline.

Travel requests for other key international performing arts markets may be submitted to any of the deadline dates above.

Applicants will normally be notified of the results within six weeks of receipt of their complete application.  Applications will not be returned to applicants. If you wish your materials to be returned, please contact Australia Council staff to make alternate arrangements.

Please send three complete hard copies of your application to:

INTERNATIONAL PERFORMING ARTS MARKET
Market Development
Australia Council for the Arts
PO Box 788
STRAWBERRY HILLS NSW 2012

Applications received via fax or email will not be considered. Applications which are incomplete or which do not contain all of the required materials will not be considered.

Applicants will not be contacted if applications are incomplete. 

FURTHER INFORMATION

For further information, please contact:

Joseph Alessi, program officer
Market Development - International
Tel: (02) 9215 9178 or Toll free: 1800 226 912
Email: j.alessi@australiacouncil.gov.au

Or

Ellen Dwyer, project co-ordinator
Market Development - International
Tel: (02) 9215 9051 or Toll free: 1800 226 912
Email: e.dwyer@australiacouncil.gov.au