Adelaide to host new national performing arts market

In a move set to further boost the arts in South Australia, Adelaide is to host a new national performing arts touring market from February 2017, with the endorsement of the Performing Arts Touring Alliance (PATA).

To be known as ShowBroker: National Touring Arts Market, the event will bring together up to 300 presenters, programmers, producers and performing artists from around Australia to see shows, meet colleagues and most importantly, do deals.

ShowBroker will be held at the height of Adelaide’s Festival season, in the middle of the Fringe and in the lead up to the Festival opening weekend, when the city is at the forefront of the Australian performing arts scene.

The influx of delegates will obviously be a boon for tourism and will also re-establish South Australia as the natural home of performing arts activity.

Welcoming Adelaide’s hosting of the event, PATA Executive Officer Merryn Carter stated “(we have) been working hard over a number of years to enable better outcomes for audiences in metropolitan, suburban and regional Australia from the arts centres that present the shows and the producing companies and artists who make the work.

“We are excited that Adelaide will be offering an innovative approach to matching presenters with producers who can provide events appropriate for their audiences. The market will complement state-based touring showcases and APACA’s annual Performing Arts Exchange.

“It is designed to maximize the amount of tour-ready work available, and will provide opportunities for small producers to apply for support to attend. We look forward to seeing many tours announced as a result of this new market.”

Adelaide Fringe Chief Executive and Director Heather Croall added “it is very exciting to welcome this new market to Adelaide during Fringe and Festival time.

“These Adelaide festivals will be the perfect setting for this marketplace. The arts industry from around Australia and the world descend on Adelaide each year for our summer festivals - there will be countless people to meet with at all times of the day and night.

“Delegates can take their meetings in the market during the day and by night they will be spoilt for choice with hundreds of brilliant shows going on in dozens of venues across town.”

ShowBroker’s core program will be built around seeing the best tour-ready Australian work and maximising opportunities to see it and book it.

Arts South Australia will deliver the market in collaboration with the Adelaide Festival of Arts, Adelaide Fringe, Adelaide Festival Centre and the South Australian Presenters’ Association with the endorsement of the Performing Arts Touring Alliance.

The National Touring Selector database (touringselector.com), managed by Country Arts SA, will be upgraded to manage all the market’s IT needs, including collating, tracking and facilitating tour interest.

The Performing Arts Touring Alliance (PATA) is Australia’s national peak alliance representing producing companies, presenters, venue managers and tour coordinators who provide communities in regional, remote, outer metropolitan and suburban Australia, as well as capital cities, with a wealth of performing arts experiences.

For more information go to www.touringselector.com and www.pata.com.au

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