Boot Camp
Business coaching program for emerging independent producers (EIP) of dance and theatre
Boot Camp assessment panel met on 20 December 2011 to assess the grant applications received on 15 December 2011.
This was the first round for the Boot Camp Initiative. We received 31 applications, demonstrating a high demand from the independent producing sector for this initiative.
Successful applicants demonstrated a strong list of multiple clients and articulated what the flow on affects to them as well as their artists would be as a result of Boot Camp.
It was noted that successful applicants had a demonstrated track record and provided a specific plan of what they aimed to achieve.
Successful recipients:
| Name | Organisation | Leader | Art Form Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aneke McCulloch | Seesault | Annette Downs | Circus |
| Dave Sleswick | Mother Board Productions | Marguerite Pepper | Theatre/Music |
| Kath Papas | Marguerite Pepper | Contemporary Dance | |
| Sam Hawker | Arts Radar | Christine Dunstan | Theatre/Dance |
| Kristal Maher | Campfire Collective | Wendy Blacklock | Theatre/Multi art |
Funding statistics:
Applications received: 31
Applications funded: 5
16% success rate
Amount requested: $120,000
Amount approved: $20,000
Panel members:
Wendy Blacklock, Christine Dunstan, Marguerite Pepper and Annette Downs
Staff present:
Collette Brennan, Tory Loudon and Katie Harford
Stay tuned for another independent producers initiative to be promoted in February.
For more information, contact Katie Harford, Program Officer, Market Development, 02 9215 9041 or email k.harford@australiacouncil.gov.au
Coach Biographies
Boot Camp is an intensive, three month, business coaching program for emerging independent producers to be matched with these highly regarded producers who will coach them for the duration of the program. Boot Camp has been created by the Australia Council for the Arts with Independent Producers Australia (IPA)
Marguerite Pepper
Marguerite’s career in the arts spans 30 years from practising artist to choreographer, production coordinator, event and festival producer, and entrepreneur.
Marguerite directs the independent production company Marguerite Pepper Productions (MPP). MPP manages a small stable of innovative artists, producing and touring their work in Australia and internationally. Marguerite produced Housedance on the sails of the Opera House for the International Millennium Broadcast, was Creative Producer of Garry Stewart’s Australian Dance Theatre, Founding Producer of Gideon Obarzanek’s Chunky Move, Executive Producer of Stalker Theatre Company, Associate Producer of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Paralympic Games, and Co-Producer of World Expo on Stage Expo 88, among many others.
Internationally Marguerite has created and produced many large scale festivals and events including: Australia’s National Day Seville Expo 1992; Australia Today Indonesia 1994; Australia Performs Montreal 1998, 2004 and 2006; the Australian Festival at the Seoul Arts Centre Korea 2001; and, the Handover Ceremony Commonwealth Games Manchester United Kingdom.
Wendy Blacklock
Wendy Blacklock spent 30 years as a Performer, working in radio, television and stage both in the UK and Australia, and the last thirty as a Producer of innovative Australian work. For ten years she headed up the Australian Content Department at the Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust and then set up an independent national organization called Performing Lines. One of Wendy’s early commissions was Aboriginal playwright Jack Davis’ No Sugar. This and several other Davis plays toured nationally and overseas.
During her time at Performing Lines Wendy developed, produced and toured both nationally and internationally with small venues and major art centres. It has produced for the Major Festivals Initiative and has a strong background in Indigenous work. Performing Lines manages many programs including: Performing Lines WA; MAPS NSW; Mobile States; Sound Travellers; Road Work; and, Tasmania Performs.
Annette Downs
Annette is the Producer at Tasmanian Performs, an Arts Tasmania initiative managed by Performing Lines, which supports product and market development for the performing arts. Tasmania Performs recently produced This Uncharted Hour by Finegan Kruckemeyer at the Theatre Royal and regularly produces regional tours. Annette’s recent freelance directing credits include I Am My Own Wife and Andrew Corder Thinks Twice for the Tasmanian Theatre Company.
Originally trained as a dancer, Annette has worked as a university lecturer, performer, artistic director, general manager and producer. She was the Artistic Director of Terrapin from 1991 to 1998 and the 1998 Telstra Tasmanian Business Woman of the Year. Annette has served on numerous Boards including the Tasmanian State Development Board, Tasmanian Arts Advisory Board, the Playing Australia Committee and the Australia Council’s Theatre Board. She is currently a member of the Theatre Royal Management Board and Performing Arts Touring Alliance (PATA) and is a Churchill Fellow.
Christine Dunstan
Christine Dunstan is an independent theatre producer who has worked exclusively in the industry for 45 years. She has covered all facets of theatre, from stage manager to production manager, lighting designer, general manager and creative producer.
In the mid 1970’s Christine founded Stagewright, a unique company at the time, providing entertainment and production services to the theatre and corporate industries. She was Production Manager for the Sydney Theatre Company for its first five years, and Director of the Araluen Centre in Alice Springs for three years. She has worked for every major theatre company in the country and on many large theatre projects throughout Australia as well as in the USA, Canada, Great Britain, Hong Kong, Japan and New Zealand.
In 1993 she established Christine Dunstan Productions (CDP), which has recently undergone a name change to CDP Theatre Producers. CDP specialises in producing high quality boutique theatre that tours throughout Australia, occasionally internationally, and has won many awards.
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