Metro Arts has created a new touring partnership model for regional Queensland titled New ERA (Engaging with Regional Audiences). This model is a partnership with presenters and designed to develop a concentrated Queensland touring network for contemporary work, with a focus on actively developing audiences for this work in these centres; and actively engaging local communities and artsworkers in the regions. Funding towards this model has been secured from Tim Fairfax Family Foundation and Playing Queensland. In 2015 the selected communities are Cairns, Townsville, Charters Towers, Hughenden and Mt Isa. The touring productions are Argus by Dead Puppet Society and A Library for the End of the World by Sarah Winter.

METRO ARTS

Metro Arts is developing the future of Australian contemporary arts practice, now.

Championing all contemporary art forms, the two core activities of the organisation are developing and co-presenting contemporary arts.

Company Website
metroarts.com.au

Unique Selling Point

This model has regional communities at its heart and will involve the touring of two small contemporary works and related activities. Audience development is about actively engaging with our audiences as fellow-collaborators; it’s about a holistic approach to performance which recognises and reflects culture and social interaction; it’s about deliberately and actively contributing to the community’s long-term development; and it's about collaborating with key community-members on the ground in remote and regional areas.

Community Engagement

Practical Example: A quality contemporary work is being produced in Brisbane by Metro Arts with local art-makers. Key community members from 5 regional centres come to Brisbane for three days of immersion, experiences and a specific workshop with artists and facilitators to discuss possible engagement models in their home communities focusing on local issues and needs.
Key community members will participate in an intensive workshop with artists and the producer centered on creating artistic activities to promote and engage the upcoming touring work with their community. These workshops will focus on brainstorming ideas, sharing experiences and creating opportunity for regional collaborations and activation of their performance space and community. Following this experience, key community members return home and continue creating and implementing development activities in constant consultation with other regional community members, presenters, artists and the producer. The program of artistic activities will occur pre-tour; during tour and post-tour to maximize the impact of the tour and ensure significant learning and exposure of a variety of artistic activities with various sections of the local communities.