The Senate wants to hear from YOU by Friday the 17th of July

Have you written your submission to the Senate Inquiry into the budget impact on the arts? If not, we are republishing this letter from Nicole Beyer from Theatre Network (Vic) to help you: 

Dear Performing Arts Colleagues,

I'm writing to urge each of you to make a submission to the 2014 and 2015 Budget Senate Inquiry before the deadline THIS Friday 17 July.

WHAT TO WRITE
Simple is fine - one page would be plenty. Just focus on why your work is valuable, who your work is for, and why Australia Council funding is important to your practice. Use real examples! Talk about your audience, your reach, your contribution, your experience. Even if you only write a few paragraphs, it is crucial that everyone takes this opportunity to speak up. You can read examples of other submissions here.

WHAT IS THE SENATE INQUIRY AND HOW CAN IT HELP?
The Inquiry was called for by the sector, and established by Labor and the Greens in the Senate last month. It will look into the impact of both the 2014 and 2015 Commonwealth Budget decisions on funding arrangements in the arts, and in particular the effect on small to medium companies and individual artists.

Although the Inquiry cannot make any legislative changes, it does allow the sector to provide a full picture of what is at stake for us. The Senate Inquiry can add fuel to the call for change to be made to the recent federal arts Budget decisions. You are strongly encouraged to take action. This is the most powerful tool we have, so we should use it!

HOW TO MAKE A SUBMISSION
Everyone is invited to have a say - the more submissions the Inquiry receives, the greater impact it will have. Here is a submission toolkit , developed by our colleagues at NAVA (Co-convenors of ArtsPeak National with TNV) that breaks down the process for you.

You are all fabulous artists and companies who deserve to be heard. Thank you in advance for your efforts!

Regards,

Nicole Beyer
Director, Theatre Network (Vic)

Playwrights in the Driver's Seat

Check out this AWG Write Night event that features our Hilary and our Donna in conversation with playwrighting comrades Alison Rooke and Melissa Lee Speyer. 

Are you desperate to write something experimental? 

Sick of trying to second guess an artistic director’s bent? 

Convinced that script development doesn’t have to be a blood sport? 

Keen to make the playwriting road less lonely? 

Meet Hilary Bell, Alison Rooke and Melissa Lee Speyer, three playwrights who will join us in conversation with Donna Abela. We’ll find out how they teamed up with like minds to initiate theatre and publishing projects, discuss the pros and cons of collaboration, and explore some different ways to make a play. 

When:   Monday 20th July – door 6.30pm for a 7pm start

Where: Harlequin Hotel, Upstairs, 152-156 Harris St, Pyrmont

Cost:      $10 members, $15 non-members (members please log in first for discount)

As well as plays, Hilary Bell writes libretti for opera, musicals and song cycles. She is graduate of NIDA, AFTRS and the Juilliard, and was the 2013 Patrick White Fellow.

Alison Rooke is a writer and dramaturge, a graduate of NIDA, AFTRS and UTS. She is also Artistic Director of Somersault Theatre Company which is dedicated to the development of new Australian writing. 

Melissa Lee Speyer is an emerging writer whose practice is divided between “traditional” text-based, writer-driven plays and experimental, collaboratively-devised work incorporating movement, technology and whatever happens to be handy.

Moderator: Donna Abela is the writer of 30 works for stage and radio including Jump For Jordan and Monkey: Journey to the West. 

Register for this event by contacting the NSW office of the AWG on 02 9319 0339 or admin@awg.com.au