PAC Australia announces merger of key national performing arts events

Performing arts peak body PAC Australia has announced that its annual conference and the Performing Arts Exchange will combine in 2020 into a newly branded event – the Australian Performing Arts Exchange (APAX).

In a communication to stakeholders, PAC Australia advised “over the past five years PAC Australia’s Performing Arts Exchange, or PAX, has been held in conjunction with our much-loved national performing arts conference.

“Over that time, we’ve seen unprecedented growth in the need for a relationship based, face-to-face gathering that connects people purposefully and unexpectedly.

“98% of people coming to PAX and the conference this year said that market and audience development are a critical part of the performing arts sector. An awesome 99% of them stated they were satisfied or very satisfied with their experience.

“We know that these two major events are central to who we are, what we do and what the performing arts sector wants.

To be held at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) in Sydney from 7th to 11th September next year, APAX 2020 will, according to PAC Australia “wrap up all the good bits of our relationship-focused market with the mind-blowing thought-leadership of our conference … same valued format … new banner.

With the host partner for APAX 2020, NIDA Chief Executive, Liz Hughes stated “we’re delighted to be partnering with PAC Australia to bring APAX to NIDA in 2020.

“As a key event for performing arts professionals we’re excited to play our part in supporting the industry and engaging in valuable discussion and networking. I look forward to welcoming delegates to NIDA and seeing some of the best creative projects and audience development strategies come to life."

APAX 2020 will present over 50 of the best creative projects on offer from across Australia along with two days of intensive learning and exchange, this year programmed by PAC Australia’s Katherine Connor.

PAC Australia add “we invite you into the important conversations around engaging, expanding and nourishing the arts ‘family’, in every sense of the word. These conversations have never been more timely and pressing than they are now.

“However you define ‘family’, whether audiences, your organisation, your community, the sector as a whole, or beyond, there’s a conversation to be had about what’s most important to you … and to your family.

“There’s no doubt that in 2020, we will have emerged as a sector that even five years ago we may not have recognised. Let’s grab the reins and be the new architects of the future of the arts in our communities.”

Click here for event details for APAX 2020 in the Australasian Leisure Management industry Calendar.

Image: Dubbo Regional Theatre, recipient of PAC Australia's Drover Award for Performing Arts Centre of the Year 2019.