APAM 2018 announces companies

From February 19-23, 2018, performing arts industry leaders will descend on Brisbane for the Australian Performing Arts Market (APAM), Australia’s largest internationally focused trade-market for contemporary performing arts.

Brisbane Powerhouse Artistic Director Kris Stewart said Brisbane Powerhouse was once again proud to be hosting APAM, Australia’s leading biennial industry event for contemporary performing arts, showcasing the very best performances from Australian and New Zealand.

Stewart said, “APAM 2018 will feature 46 outstanding Australian and New Zealand companies delivering 31 showcases, including full-length productions and excerpts, as well as 15 work in development pitches.”

Stewart noted that there were many positive outcomes of APAM 2016 and that he’s confident many of those presenting in 2018 will achieve similar success.

“Brisbane-based company Circa showcased an excerpt of their work Carnival of the Animals as part of the APAM 2016 official program. Since then Circa has locked in presenting opportunities both internationally and nationally; including a national tour with another work Landscape with Monsters and tours to Mexico and Korea. These tours are as a direct result from their APAM experience,” said Stewart.

Established in 1994 by the Australia Council for the Arts, APAM is the only event on the national arts calendar that provides presenters from metropolitan, regional and remote Australia with the opportunity to see and hear about the latest works by Australian artists and companies across genres.

Australia Council for the Arts CEO Tony Grybowski stated, “Over five days and across five venues APAM brings together over 1,200 influential Directors, Executives, Creatives, Associate Producers, CEOs, General and Program Managers, Artists and Agents from around Australia and the globe. It is a unique opportunity to discuss the latest ideas and innovations across performing arts in Australia, while discovering new Australian talent. The Australia Council is proud to have led this initiative for over 20 years, fostering national and international touring opportunities and creating a platform for extraordinary collaborations by Australian artists.”

The Premier and Minister for the Arts Annastacia Palaszczuk said Brisbane will be the place to be to do business within the performing arts industry when APAM 2018 takes centre stage next year.

Palaszczuk said, “APAM 2018 provides the opportunity to showcase our amazing local talent and facilitates valuable industry connections, which can open the door to national and international partnerships, tours and new productions. We have a dynamic performing arts scene in Queensland and I am delighted six artists and companies from Queensland have been invited to pitch at APAM 2018 including Bleached Arts, Casus Circus, Dancenorth Australia, Leah Shelton, Queensland Theatre and Thomas E. S. Kelly.”

Palaszczuk added, “The Queensland Government, through Arts Queensland and Tourism and Events Queensland, is a longtime supporter of APAM. APAM promotes our artists and arts companies and further reinforces Queensland’s reputation as a premier arts and cultural destination.”

In 2018 there are new additions to the program, including Performing Asia, which will provide a platform for market-ready artists and producers to explore relationships and practices developed within the Asia Pacific Region. The new First Timer’s Program will assist first-time attendees in navigating APAM to ensure a deeper engagement and experience.

Then, with the support of the Sidney Myer Fund bursaries for independent artists, some producers and individuals will be able to attend APAM 2018 thanks to a delegate pass. Register to be a delegate now at www.performingartsmarket.com.au.

Perhaps most excitingly, this year for the first time Brisbane locals will have a unique opportunity to peer behind the industry curtain and view some incredible full-length works that will be showcased at APAM. The Brisbane Powerhouse public program will feature both free and ticketed events.

Stewart said Brisbane Powerhouse was excited to offer audiences the opportunity to experience APAM.

“This is the first time we’re opening the doors and inviting audiences in to experience some of the very best performances from Australia and New Zealand, including two large-scale, site-specific performances, and a free up-late live music program on the Turbine Platform.”

On Sunday, February 18 in the Visy Theatre at Brisbane Powerhouse, Queensland choreographer and composer Thomas E. S. Kelly will present [MIS]CONCIEVE, a mash-up of traditional and contemporary dance theatre show which explores the misconceptions and pre-conceived ideas on what people are supposed to look and act like with their aptly named work. This is a co-presentation between Supercell, BlakDance and Brisbane Powerhouse. The general public can book tickets at https://brisbanepowerhouse.org/whats-on.

APAM delegates and attendees will see another 11 dance companies and artists. Performances include Amrita Hepi’s pitch A Call to Dance, Performing Lines’ showcase A Faint Existence, Dancenorth’s work Attractor, Intimate Spectacle’s project Between Tiny Cities, Jo Lloyd’s pitch Confusion…, James Batchelor’s work Deepspace, DubaiKungkaMiyalk’s showcase Divercity, Restless Dance Theatre’s piece Intimate Space, Marrugeku’s pitch Le Dernier Appel (The Last Call), Lucy Guerin Inc.’s work Split, and Freya Waterson’s pitch Token Armies.

Photos: Attractor by Gregory Lorenzutti (top); Deepspace by James Batchelor (left); Split by Gregory Lorenzutti (right); and [MIS]CONCEIVE by Zan Wimberley (bottom.)