International Society for the Performing Arts Congress returns to Australia in 2016

For the first time in 15 years, the International Society for the Performing Arts Congress will be staged in Australia, heading to Melbourne later this year.

The International Society for the Performing Arts (ISPA) – a global network of arts leaders established in 1948 – will hold its annual international Congress in Melbourne from 30th May to 4th June 2016.

The Congress, with the theme ‘Reimagining’, is expected to attract over 400 delegates from 40 countries around the world and is being hosted by Arts Centre Melbourne.

It coincides with the annual The Light in Winter Festival at Federation Square, directed by Robyn Archer, and the start of the Melbourne International Jazz Festival.

Australians will make up approximately 50% of delegates, according to an Arts Centre Melbourne spokesperson.

Attendees represent different cultures and disciplines within the performing arts sector. Congress programming is geared toward administrators, presenters, managers, agents, artists and government/cultural leaders, and will feature a series of provocations through performance and keynotes that interrogate contemporary performance culture.

To encourage greater participation by local arts professionals, discounted registrations are available for delegates from the Asia Pacific regions.

Additionally, the Anthony Field Academy, which takes place during the first two days of the Congress, is designed to cater to the needs of emerging leaders in the local arts community.

The ISPA holds two Congresses each year, one in the USA and a second in a select international location.

The 2015 ISPA Congress in Malmö/Copenhagen attracted over 400 delegates from 39 countries and 147 cities, while the 2016 ISPA Congress in New York in January was attended by 535 delegates from 55 countries and 190 cities.

The event was held in Sydney in 2001.

Early bird Congress registrations, offering a 15% discount before 1st April, are now open.

Click here to view event details in the Australasian Leisure Management industry Calendar.

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