Services
Children, Young People & The Arts (CYPA)
TNA is the Australian organisation responsible for convening, supporting, and developing the Children, Young People, and the Arts (CYPA) sector. It also represents and promotes Australia in the ASSITEJ global network and facilitates international and national opportunities for our sector.
TNA plays the role of ‘ASSITEJ Australia’
ASSITEJ is the International Association of Theatre for Children and Young People (the acronym comes from the original French: Association Internationale de Theatre pour les Enfants et le Jeunesse). It is an international alliance of professionals involved in performance with/for/by young people, and there are 83 national centres globally; TNA is the ASSITEJ centre for Australia, continuing a 40+ year relationship between ASSITEJ and Australia.
Australia has hosted two World Congresses: the 9th Congress (Adelaide, 1987) and the 16th Congress (Adelaide 2008). We now have a closer role within the network, with our Australian representative, Sue Giles, being elected the President of ASSITEJ in May 2021.
Established in 2020, TNA convenes an ASSITEJ Advisory Committee that is made up of representatives from the performance with/for/by young people sector from across the country.
Video: Young People & Theatre
TNA worked with Amelia Ducker to create an inspiring video celebrating work made with and for young people across Australia.
The video premiered at the ASSITEJ World Congress/ MIRAI Festival in March 2021, presenting Australia’s Theatre for Young Audiences and Youth Arts Sector to international delegates. It was screened again in May 2021 at NEIGHBOURHOOD, the first of five Australian Theatre Forum 2021 events held in partnership with Australian Performing Arts Market (APAM) and DreamBIG Children’s Festival.
It proudly reflects the breadth of work we create and varied contexts within which we create; showcases our diversity of practice, practitioners and audiences; and highlights the unique work being made in Australia.
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Circus & Physical Theatre (CaPT)
TNA works with the Australian Circus and Physical Theatre community to contribute to the development of a diverse, thriving, and sustainable sector. Our aspiration is for the sector to be recognised and supported by three tiers of government, presenters, programmers, and audiences alike.
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Australian Performing Arts Forum (APAF)
The Australian Performing Arts Forum (formerly Australian Theatre Forum), run by TNA, is a landmark meeting place for Australian performing arts industry professionals. Held in different locations around the country, this biennial event strengthens the performing arts by addressing current issues regarding policy and practice, sharing knowledge and view points, and cultivating fresh ideas that will, in turn, enrich Australian art, culture and society.
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The Australian Performing Arts Forum (formerly ATF) took place from 13-15 September 2023 in Brisbane in association with Brisbane Festival and Brisbane Powerhouse. Check out the documentation on the APAF website!
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ATF in 2021 went ahead in a deconstructed, COVID responsive way. We planned five different events: 3 in person, and 2 online, across the year. As 2021 progressed, we felt lucky to have had a large in person gathering in Adelaide in May. The Darwin gathering was shifted online, and the Sydney in person gathering was sadly cancelled.
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The fifth biennial forum, 2017 ATF: ABOUT TIME was held in Adelaide, 3-5 October 2017, Co-curated by Alexis West and Steve Mayhew, with producer Jennifer Greer Holmes.
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ATF 2015: MAKING IT was held at the Seymour Centre in Sydney from 20-23 January 2015, as part of Sydney Festival.
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In 2013, To the Heart of It took place in the capital as part of the Centenary of Canberra, a year-long program curated by Robyn Archer.
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ATF 2011: Convictions + Connections took place at Brisbane Powerhouse from September 14 - 16.
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On May 14th-16th in Melbourne’s Arts House Meat Market there was a unique gathering of Australia’s theatre practitioners, producers, presenters and commentators to explore the urgent issues of our time and imagine possible futures for the Australian theatre sector. This forum was the first time the theatre sector got together in this way for over 20 years and it was hoped that this would be the first of a regular biennale forum hosted by different cities and towns across Australia.
Past Programs
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LeaderShift is an intervention that supports organisations to examine their leadership and business models, investigate more relevant models, and make a commitment to implementing changes that prioritise equity and cultural safety. It supports leaders from diverse backgrounds to thrive within systems that may not be designed to accommodate them, and offers them the inspiration, tools, and peer support to think about how to reinvent these systems.
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This initiative supports Circus and Physical Theatre independent producers across Australia who work with artists in and from Victoria. It will increase the size and the diversity of the CaPT producing pool and includes two of the three core components: the Emerging Producers Lab, Salon Series, and a program of peer coaching sessions for artists.
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The Victorian Independent Producers Initiative (VIPI) supported independent producers, and through them, independent artists and companies in the performing arts in Victoria. VIPI included the Producers Mentoring Program, Unlocking Capacity grants, as well as a range of professional development activities.
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TNA supported a range of ongoing and developing programs for independent artists. Across 2020-2021 this included the Crisis Cash program, which provided $1,000 bursaries to 366 artists.
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TNA partnered with Safe Theatres Australia to strengthen and build greater resilience in the performing arts sector through safe workplaces.
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A paid strategic leadership program that developed and supported independents in the performing arts. Power Play provided participants with broader arts sector understanding, access to decision makers, specialised training and experience, community insight, and advice from leaders.
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Creating Out Loud is a peer learning program that provides a framework to rethink current practices, extend and deepen professional networks, both within and beyond the arts and culture sector, and provides an opportunity to support each other through knowledge-sharing, goal setting, and collaboration.
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TNA is proud to offer and support a range of sector awards. Current awards offered include the Smash Indie Bursary (National), Green Room Awards Sponsorships, and Melbourne Fringe Awards (Victorian).