9 July 2015

Very interesting article covering the complex area of school funding in our favourite source, The Conversation. Read it here

Find news tagged: General News

7 July 2015

How fantastic to read the story of Misty Copeland in the New York Times - not only is she the first black american prima ballerina with the American Ballet Theatre, but she didn't even start ballet until she was 13. Her background made her success unlikely.

Read the article here

Find news tagged: General News

3 July 2015

One of the few times in the year all Australian schools are on holidays.

Have a great break everyone!

Find news tagged: General News

2 July 2015

As we've already reported, the change in arts funding for companies touring Australia is potentially diabolical.

This year, we've seen touring theatre productions for schools audiences from Queensland (eg Kelly (image above), Black Diggers by QTC), from SA (eg Cranky Bear by Patch Theatre), from NSW (eg 26 & 52 Storey Treehouse by CDP Theatre Producers), from Victoria (Stripey-the eggscellent adventures of an emu chick by Garry Ginivan Attractions) and these are just a few examples. Touring funding allows audiences outside of the state the show was produced in, to see it without having to pay travel costs. It's a system that has worked well bringing the best works produced in Australia to all Australians.

This is even more the case for producers of work for schools and familiy audiences. Ticket prices have to be kept low, so there is little chance a producer could pay the costs to tour their show. Schools audiences everywhere would miss out. 

It is important that all audiences have access to the arts, but schools audiences are the most important and they will be the most affected. 

Without any consultation, the Federal Government has taken millions from the Australia Council. The June funding round for touring had to be withdrawn because the Australia Council simply didn't know if it could pay for tours. This means hundreds of theatres and companies are uncertain what will happen next year. Arts companies are concerned about the uncertainty of their future.

SA's Patch Theatre has written a great response to all of this, explaining how their company will be affected and advocating letter writing action. When you read it, realise that this is the situation for most arts companies in Australia.

Shows For Schools endorses their comments and we will also be writing to politicians.

Click the link below

Find news tagged: General News

1 July 2015

New financial  year. Halfway through calendar year. Most schools on break or about to be. An ideal time to reflect, relax and plan for the next six months.

Shows For Schools is here to help.

Find news tagged:

30 June 2015

Any left over money? Spend it on the arts!

Find news tagged: General News

26 June 2015

Interesting article in The Conversation about how accent in Australia is not as important as in Britain in getting into better jobs. No surprise there. Article includes clips of RG Menzies in 1966 and Gough Whitlam in 1972 - the difference in their accents says so much about how they saw themselves and Australia. Fun to watch. Go here.

Find news tagged: General News

26 June 2015

A few days to go ACT, SA, Tas and WA.

Find news tagged: General News

24 June 2015

Nearly there...NSW, Vic and Qld schools break up this week, for the mid-year break, if they haven't already. NT schools paved the way, finishing up last week. 

ACT, SA, Tas and WA all finish on 3 July.

Have a relaxing break.

Find news tagged:

23 June 2015

It's going to be very difficult to choose a winner in the category Best Presentation for Children in this year's Helpmann Awards. These are the nominees - all of which you could find on Shows For Schools!

Pete The Sheep - Produced and toured by Monkey Baa Theatre 

Hans Christian, You Must Be An Angel - Presented by Sydney Opera House and Arts Centre Melbourne

The Rabbits - Opera Australia and Barking Gecko - Commissioned by Perth International Arts and Melbourne Festivals

Carnival of the Animals - Circa and Queensland Performing Arts Centre

Also of interest to Education audiences:

Geoff Dunstan and the team bringing  you CURIOSITY this year, are nominated for BEST PHYSICAL THEATRE PERFORMANCE

And Clare Watson, known by many for her work with Malthouse Theatre Education, is nominated for Best Director for What Rhymes with Cars and Girls. Congrats and Good Luck, Clare!!

Also nominated is KELLY from Queensland Theatre Company for Best Touring Production. 

Image: Hans Christian, You Must Be An Angel 

Find news tagged: General News

21 June 2015

Circus Oz has a brilliant show for Primary kids on in October in Melbourne

Called CURIOSITY . We've seen it and it's great.

Book before end of Term 2 and get the incredibly low price of $9.90 per student. (General Public price - $25.00)

On in their very own Spiegeltent in Collingwood. You can do a workshop with the Circus Oz trainers too. Details

We hope they tour this one nationally too.

Find news tagged: General News

19 June 2015

"Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit."  We used this great quote from Noble Prize Winner, John Steinbeck, in our June enews. 

Segue to Perth Theatre Company whose production of Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men is on in December. Don't miss the opportunity to see this masterwork.

Find news tagged: General News