This year we celebrated our 20+ year partnership with the Australian Children’s Theatre Foundation (ACTF). This is a great example of how RAV works alongside a philanthropic trust and Government to bring creative performances to young people in remote and regional areas across Victoria.
The Australian Children’s Theatre was created by Joan and Betty Rayner in 1948. Joan and Betty were seasoned performers who introduced the pleasures of live theatre, music, mime, and puppetry to young people around Australia and the world. The Foundation was formed in 2000 following a bequest by the Rayner sisters.
The ACTF is a proud partner of RAV’s Creative Learning program providing subsidies of up to 75% to low socio-economic, remote, literacy challenged, and disaster affected schools across Victoria. So far, 62,321 students from 658 schools from across the state have received subsidies to attend creative shows and activities!
Genevieve Hulin, Principal at Merino Consolidated School, put in perfectly after a subsidised program took place at her school in 2022:
“The whole day had such a positive impact on our school and school community. Firstly, I don’t know what schools like ours would do without this fabulous service. My students come from low socio-economic and backgrounds and families who have low level literacy and have no access to The Arts due to distance and financial barriers. However, the students who attend Merino are nonetheless enthusiastic about artistic experiences. Despite their backgrounds and limited exposure, their appreciation of The Arts and enthusiasm to participate is no less eager than any other student who lives in a Metro region. My students are no less eager to aspire for artistic pursuits than a student from a high socio-economic or metro background and to be able to be provided with an opportunity like this is truly a god send.”
Playing a key role in the development of the Theatre for Young Audiences sector in Victoria, the ACTF offers a bi-annual $20,000 Commission for new work. In 2020, a bi-annual Fellowship was also established to support the artistic development of an artists’ practice to the amount of $20,000. This is open to emerging or established artists working in children’s theatre and those wishing to diversify their practice into and across the field of theatre for children. So far, thirteen new works have been commissioned, and three artists have received an ACTF Fellowship.
Image: Development showing of Reasons To Be Invisible by Katy Warner, ACTF Commission Recipient 2023, Daylesford Town Hall. Photograph by Lab Kelpie
Posted 18 December 2024