Important update from Australian Children’s Theatre Foundation
In 2025, instead of offering the anticipated ACTF Joan and Betty Rayner Commission or Fellowship, the Trustees of the ACTF will undertake the Joan and Betty Rayner archiving project, archiving the many artifacts of theatre performers Joan and Betty Rayner and the Australian Children’s Theatre.
Joan and Betty performed across the globe and were instrumental in the development of the theatre for children in Australia. There are many interesting artifacts from throughout their careers, ranging from newspaper articles to costumes and props. These important treasures need to be looked after and preserved accordingly. In 2025, ACTF will work to compile and archive the artifacts to ensure their safe keeping, so they can be enjoyed and used as educational and inspirational moments of history.
The ACTF Commission and Fellowship will return in 2026 with applications opening late 2025.
The Australian Children’s Theatre was created by sisters Joan and Betty Rayner in 1948. Joan and Betty were seasoned performers, touring across Australia and the world. Countless Australian children were introduced to the pleasures of live theatre by attending the widely acclaimed drama, music, mime and puppet productions of the Australian Children’s Theatre. The performances were always lively, engaging and uplifting; and did much to build bridges of love and understanding between people from different cultures and traditions. The Australian Children’s Theatre also enabled outstanding international artists and companies to perform to delighted audiences in Australia.
Joan Rayner established the Australian Children’s Theatre Foundation (ACTF) to keep alive the aims of the Australian Children’s Theatre.
The ideals of the Foundation are:
- to foster in children a widening interest in the arts and humanity
- to foster understanding between people of different countries and cultures, including the telling of Indigenous stories
- to use theatre to explore and present stories from around the world including those of recent arrivals to Australia
The Work of the ACTF
The ACTF is a proud partner of Regional Arts Victoria’s Creative Learning program and supports schools across Victoria to access to the program. The Foundation provides subsidies of up to 75% for schools affected by low socio-economic circumstances; remoteness; high numbers of students for whom English is not their first language; bushfire or other disaster; and schools with specific learning needs. To see if your school is eligible contact the Creative Learning team at Regional Arts Victoria.
ACTF plays a key role in the development of the Theatre for Young Audiences sector in Victoria by offering a bi-annual $20,000 Commission for the development of a new work, as well as a newly created bi-annual $20,000 Fellowship which will support the development of an artists’ artistic practice.
Applications for the 2024 Fellowship are now closed. Read about the recipient here.
To hear more about the fellowships, join our ENews.
The Australian Children’s Theatre Foundation is proudly supported by:
