Anniversary of diplomatic relations between Australia and China
Marking the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Australia and the People’s Republic of China, and the 40th anniversary of the Australia-China Council, Arts Centre Melbourne received funding from the Australian Government through the Australia China Council, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, facilitating a cultural delegation to Guangzhou and Shenzhen, China in November 2018.
Representing Arts Centre Melbourne, a senior delegation travelled to the China to meet with industry counterparts to explore possibilities of theatre-based technical production training exchanges between the two countries.
Following the success of our Asia TOPA programme where we worked closely alongside many productions from Asian countries, Arts Centre Melbourne has a unique capacity to provide technical training and consulting services to international markets. As amongst China’s most culturally sophisticated arts markets and home to a number of new performing arts venues, we identified Guangdong Province as an immediate opportunity to facilitate deeper, high-quality cultural exchange with Australia.
Delegation with the Xinghai Concert Hall’s team
A cross-selection of culturally significant venues in Guangzhou and Shenzhen were chosen by the Melbourne team. These were Guangzhou Opera House, Xinghai Concert Hall, Guangzhou Dramatic Arts Centre No. 13 and the Shenzhen Concert Hall.
We were so very well received in China and our travel yielded positive results on many levels. We had lengthy discussions on promoting exchanges of technical training programmes in order to strengthen technical skills in areas of lighting, audio and visual, theatrical flying systems as well as safe work practices within the region’s performing arts sector.
Delegation with the Guangzhou Opera House’s team
It was very interesting to learn that when it comes to networks between cultural venues in China that the similarities between our two countries are great. We are currently rolling out a vital regional training programme to larger ‘hub’ venues in regional parts of Victoria where the venues from smaller towns can reach our training services more easily. This will help greatly to strengthen technical capacity of these venues so that they can be better prepared to receive some of the larger technical productions that tour throughout the state. It is certainly a model that would work well in China. Our training programmes could be delivered to areas within networks of live performance venues to help strengthen and build on technical knowledge and skills-sets of production team members, both in city and regional areas.
Delegation with the Shenzhen Concert Hall’s team
Our journey was very encouraging, our hosts were very welcoming and supportive and we are excited to see what happens next. We are now looking at returning to China toward the end of 2019 with the support of the Australian Government.
Arts Centre Melbourne, a Registered Training Organisation, has provided its nationally accredited Technical Theatre Training Programme to hundreds of creative industry practitioners in Australia for more than 20 years. The organisation is dedicated to nurturing and growing Australia’s creative talent and industry.
The programme offers professional development in:
- customer service
- lighting
- multimedia and broadcast
- safety
- staging
- sound and vision
- team leadership and production management
- wardrobe
- workplace mental health and wellbeing.
Through formal classroom study, secondments, training, residencies and mentoring with highly skilled senior technicians, practitioners work alongside some of Australia’s top industry directors, designers, technical experts and performers.
With a constant stream of live performances, Arts Centre Melbourne offers opportunities to work with leading local and international touring productions, using the latest state-of-the-art equipment, facilities and technology.
The programme also provides access to learning across three of Melbourne’s most iconic buildings and spaces – the Theatres Building, Hamer Hall and Sidney Myer Music Bowl – all located in the heart of the city’s vibrant cultural precinct.
The creative industry in Victoria look to us at Arts Centre Melbourne to lead the way in technical training, development, and safety. We are one of few venues in the world delivering this kind of training under the one roof, and our team is highly experienced and internationally recognised for our technical expertise. Many trainees have since progressed to leadership and supervisory positions in national theatres, touring productions, film and television.
The programme offers two qualifications:
- Certificate III in Live Production and Services: entry level qualification. Participants do not require significant prior experience, but must demonstrate enthusiasm and potential in the industry.
- Certificate IV in Live Production and Technical Services: specialist training for experienced technicians in the Melbourne Arts Precinct, developing necessary skills to transition to future senior, supervisory and people management roles. Participants are nominated by their employers.
Click here to visit Arts Centre Melbourne’s website.