Value of the Arts explored at APACA's annual conference

Representatives of performing arts venues from around Australia and New Zealand are meeting in Hobart for the annual Australian Performing Arts Centres Association (APACA) conference.

With the theme 'Harvest: Fresh Perspectives for Performing Arts', APACA's 28th conference runs from 1st to 4th July and is centred on the Hobart Function and Conference Centre

The conference connects with and has been preceeded by the Australia Council’s Marketing Summit to deliver what APACA Executive Director Rick Heath explains is "a rich banquet of arts ideas and practices from around the corner and around the globe."

Heath adds "from the conference’s harbour-front location in Hobart’s Constitution Docks, with the backdrop of snow capped Mt Wellington, (the conference will help delegates) unearth the value of arts and culture and learn how to tell the stories that convince people of that value."

Approximately 240 delegates, including performance makers, producers, venue managers and programmers are attending the conference.

The conference is supported by the Tasmanian Government, with Minister for the Arts Vanessa Goodwin highlighting that "a selection of Tasmania's finest performing artists and companies will be showcased ... during the conference, in a program curated by Tasmania Performs.

"This 'mini-market' entitled Me, My Art and You will enable Tasmanian artists to present their work to producers and presenters who are looking to tour and present performing arts in their venues around Australia.

"Me, My Art and You will feature independent Tasmanian artists including contemporary dancer, Trisha Dunn; musician, singer and songwriter Dean Stevenson; and veteran performer Justus Neumann.

"Performing arts companies MADE - Mature Artists' Dance Ensemble - and Blue Cow Theatre Company will also be showcasing their work and Tasmania Performs will present As We Forgive, which premiered at Ten Days on the Island in 2013 to critical acclaim."

The mini market is presented by Tasmania Performs in partnership with the APACA Conference, Blue Heeler Network and the Theatre Royal, with assistance from the Australia Council for the Arts and the Tasmanian Government through Arts Tasmania.

The conference's principal sponsor is Ticketserv.

The conference will also see the presentation of the 2014 APACA Drover Awards.

Instigated in 2003 to recognise excellence in performing arts touring, three venues have been named as finalists in the Performing Arts Centre of the Year category.

The venues are the Colac Otway Performing Arts and Cultural Centre, the Mandurah Performing Arts Theatre and Hobart's Theatre Royal.

APACA is the national peak body representing and supporting performing arts centres from Hobart's own Theatre Royal to the Sydney Opera House and regional and remote cultural centres.

Visit the APACA website at www.apaca.com.au

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31st May 2013 - MANDURAH PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE NAMED AUSTRALIA’S PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE OF THE YEAR

31st July 2012 - $75 MILLION PERFORMING ARTS ACADEMY PROPOSED FOR HOBART’S CBD

1st October 2009 - PERFORMING ARTS MOST POPULAR WITH SPONSORS: ABAF SURVEY