Dance action plan 2006-08

This document is the final reporting against the Australia Council's Dance action plan and details the achievements of 2006-2008.

In 2003 the Australia Council for the Arts' dance board released Resourcing Dance: an analysis of the subsidised Australian dance sector prepared by Positive Solutions. In response to Resourcing Dance, the dance board developed the Dance action plan 2006-2008 which guided the dance board’s investments over the two year period.

In July 2008 the Australia Council for the Arts and Ausdance National launched Dance Plan 2012, a four year action plan for dance in Australia.

Final reporting on the Dance action plan 2006-2008

There were 41 of the 43 key performance indicators (KPIs) within the plan achieved, and many deliver against the recommendations from Resourcing Dance. Two KPIs have not been achieved: In goal 6, the dance related ARC linkage project did not come to fruition. In goal 1, key organisations companies did not maintain the number of new works produced in 2007. With increased Government funding from 2008 onwards, we expect to address this situation.

Highlights

This action plan has ensured that dance work of the highest calibre was made through 103 grants totalling $2,525,199. Key dance organisations created 120 new works over the period and dance board funded work has received over 34 awards.

The distribution of dance nationally and internationally was increased through 66 artists and companies profiled and promoted at key performing arts markets. Mobile States toured five dance companies nationally and a new initiative, roadwork, was created to increase the regional presentation of dance in Australia. 20 new media and/or dance on film projects were funded and the ABC of Dance for Film was a major broadcast partnership between the ABC, Channel 4 and MJW Productions in the UK.

Community engagement with dance increased through Leigh Warren & Dancers; Restless Dance Company; Stompin Youth and Tracks all delivering community engagement projects. Two Epic07 grants enabled Timothy Bishop to work with young people in Wollongong and Aimee Smith to work with Awesome Arts in WA. An increase in dance audiences was secured through the successful partnership with Sydney Festival on its Movers & Shakers season in 2008.

Investment in the creation of work increased in 2006-07 when the dance board budget restructure yielded a 6% increase in available funds in the open grants categories. Additional funds from Council and Government in 2007-2008, including an additional $1,287,000 for dance key organisations, yielded a further 29% increase.

Artist sustainability was enhanced through 30 skills development grants totalling $249,632 and four fellowship grants totalling $350,000. Nine young artists were mentored through the SPARK program and eight NT based artists received Independent Support funding. Three managing and producing services were created for independent artists in Queensland, Victoria and West Australia; and over $550,000 was awarded to young & emerging artists. Marilyn Miller was appointed as the national Indigenous dance coordinator of Treading the Pathways an organisation created to support Indigenous contemporary dance artists throughout Australia. To increase earnings for artists the dance board in collaboration with the Australian Sports Commission and Ausdance national developed SCOPE (Securing Career Opportunities and Professional Employment) to provide career and education support services to 41 professional dance artists.

Company sustainability was enhanced through seven company development grants for projects to improve the business and strategic operations of specific companies. Force Majeure, Performance Space, the late Tanja Leidtke, Tracks, Restless, Luke George and Curious Works all received philanthropic funding through Artsupport.

The dance board maximized its resources through liaising, influencing and partnering with a number of key stakeholders to develop the artform. These included the MPAB, ATSIAB, Community Partnerships, Communications, Theatre board, State and Territory agencies, the Tertiary Dance Council, Australian Sports Commission, ABC, Channel 4, Arts Council England, Playing Australia and Sydney Festival.

Artistic quality of work and its creative rationale is of primary importance to the board. Diversity of practice and culture, particularly Indigenous cultural heritage, is an overarching objective across all our work.

For detail on Australia Council investment in dance between 2006 –2008 see the Australia Council's annual reports.

For detail on dance programs www.australiacouncil.gov.au/dance.