This program tours professional artists to a network of community halls, Mechanics Institutes and other unique performance locations, for events coordinated largely by volunteer, arts loving community groups known as Community Presenters. To suit this style of touring, shows selected for this program are relatively low-cost, ‘tour ready’, easily adaptable to various performance spaces, and willing to tour with and set up/pack down their own technical equipment. Performing artists touring with this program must be self-sufficient, flexible and excited to share their work with small communities.
Expressions of Interest for Connecting Places 2023
Open 3pm Wednesday 30 March 2022
Information Webinar Thursday 7 April 2022, 12pm-1pm (register here)
Close 3pm Tuesday 3 May 2022
Applicants will be notified late May
Program is announced in mid-July
We support the touring artists selected for our programs by building tour itineraries, negotiating fees, managing funding applications, coordinating the creation of appropriate marketing materials, contracting, invoicing, booking logistics and reporting. Companies we work with are expected to manage the pre-production phase of the tour and are encouraged to develop close working relationships with the venues on their tour.
Equity and diversity across our touring programs is a priority of Regional Arts Victoria. Expressions of Interest from First Nations, culturally and linguistically diverse, and/or regionally based artists/companies are welcomed. Please contact Regional Arts Victoria if you have any questions.
If your work is specifically intended for children, your application should be submitted via our Arts & Education EOI process, which is the portal for works for this audience. The Arts & Education program caters specifically to primary and secondary age audiences, and EOIs will open in the coming weeks. Register HERE to be notified when these open. Works submitted through this process are made available to the Connecting Places network of presenters.
Expressions of Interest are to be submitted via an online form. We recommend you download and read the Submission Guidelines, and the Drafting Tool and Budget Template to prepare your responses prior to starting your online application. These tools also offer further guidance on how to respond to each section.
Incomplete online EOI’s will not be eligible and cannot be assessed.
To ensure your project is suitable for this touring program, applicants are strongly encouraged to contact us prior to commencing the EOI to discuss their project’s suitability for the program. Bookings for 15 minute phone appointments to discuss your application are available throughout the time that the EOIs are open, and can be made here.
 | … | … Bindi Green Connecting Places Manager [email protected] |
Connecting Places Selection Criteria:
- The project is innovative, high-quality and entertaining
- Preferred Artforms: Theatre, music, cabaret, comedy, live performances for children/families including circus, puppetry and/or dance, performance projects with community engagement component
- The project is ‘tour ready’: has already had at least one season and is relatively easy to remount
- The project is relevant to regional communities
- The project is affordable: maximum per show fee of $3,500 and maximum touring party of four people. Refer to Live Performance Award guidelines for recommended artist fees
- The company has included quality marketing materials in their application
- The company’s technical requirements are adaptable to a variety of performance spaces with limited technical provision from the venue
- The project is able to bump in and perform on the same day
- The company understands the context of working with volunteer community groups who aim to connect with and enrich their regional communities through the arts
- The touring party is available for two to four weeks between April and November 2023
- Across our program, the range of projects selected reflect Regional Arts Victoria’s equity and diversity goals
GUIDELINES AND DRAFTING TOOLS
Connecting Places Submission Guidelines Doc (.docx 1.93mb)
Connecting Places Submission Guidelines PDF (.pdf 142kb)
Connecting Places EOI Drafting Tool Doc (.docx 1.28mb)
Connecting Places EOI Budget Template (.xlsx 25.9kb)
Banner Image L-R: JUNKLANDIA (image by Sara Cohen), Varietyville and Mama Kin Spender (image by Nick McKinlay).