The Australia Council for the Arts today announced that Adelaide would be the host city for the next three Australian Performing Arts Markets (APAM).
The Australia Council will partner with Arts SA to present APAM in 2008, 2010 and 2012, building on the success of the five previous markets in Adelaide between 1998 and 2006.
The Australia Council established APAM in 1994 to increase international and national touring opportunities for Australian performing arts across theatre, music, dance, physical theatre and performance-based new media arts. The biennial event is a crucial platform for Australian artists and arts companies eager to take their shows around the world.
‘APAM has thrived for the last eight years in Adelaide, and we are excited by the opportunities Adelaide can offer for its future growth. We look forward to working with Arts SA and our key partners the Adelaide Festival Centre, Adelaide Bank Festival of Arts and Adelaide Fringe, all of whom have invaluable experience working together to deliver exceptional events, including APAM,’ said Jennifer Bott, Australia Council for the Arts chief executive officer.
Ms Bott said that hosting the event in Adelaide, to coincide with the Adelaide Bank Festival of Arts and Adelaide Fringe, was integral to APAM’s international appeal.
‘International presenters and producers travelling all the way from the UK, Europe, North America and Asia want to see a critical mass of performing arts in one place at one time. Adelaide provides the ideal environment to host APAM, with the Festival and Fringe providing such a rich and stimulating range of productions to complement the Market’s program. Delegates can also take in work presented by the Perth International Arts Festival and New Zealand International Arts Festival at the same time.’
Ms Bott said the proposed timing of APAM, during Adelaide’s late summer, was also a strong incentive for international delegates. ‘This is the time when delegates from our key markets of North America, UK and mainland Europe and Asia start a new programming cycle, so we will be targeting presenters and programmers when they are looking for new shows to fill their next season.
‘The successful Adelaide proposal also highlighted new and progressive ways to develop the Market over the next six years,’ she added.
Ms Bott said the city’s accessibility, the convenient location of the Adelaide Festival Centre and close proximity to hotels and venues created an intimate location for APAM – another key factor in Adelaide’s successful proposal.
The 1st and 2nd Australian Performing Arts Markets were in Canberra in 1994 and 1996, in conjunction with the National Festival of Australian Theatre. The past five Markets have been held in Adelaide in 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2006 in conjunction with the Adelaide Bank Festival of Arts and the Adelaide Fringe.
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