Urgent conversations. Compelling ideas. Inspiring vision. The Australian Theatre Forum is a biennial event that brings together theatre practitioners, producers and cultural provocateurs from across the sector – from independent artists and small companies to venues, major performing arts organisations and national festivals – to engage in a vibrant dialogue about the things that matter.
In 2013, To the Heart of It takes place in the capital as part of the Centenary of Canberra, a year-long program curated by Robyn Archer. It draws inspiration from Canberra both as a traditional and continuing gathering point for Indigenous culture and as a multifaceted twenty-first century city.
From a starting point of ‘what is not possible’, we enter into a three-day conversation that acknowledges the impossibility of what we do – so we can move our talking, thinking and re-imagining beyond that. In discussion with scientists, architects, academics, restaurateurs and politicians – we focus on the big and small ideas that shape our art-making and the possibilities for change. ATF invites and demands an exchange of ideas, a deepening of relationships, and a conversation around practice itself.
In one extraordinary week that welcomes artists, arts managers, producers and presenters to the capital in its Centenary year, To the Heart of It directly follows the APACA Conference – Fear No Art and coincides with a Tipping Point Australia gathering and the Marketing Summit.
Read about the 2011 ATF, held at Brisbane Powerhouse, here.
Advisory committee: Robyn Archer, Nicole Beyer, Steve Bull, Jo Duffy, Michael Futcher, Rick Heath, Edwina Lunn, Frank Mainoo, Rachael Maza, Andy Packer, Caroline Stacey, Christopher Tooher
Curator: Alicia Talbot
Project Producer: Antonia Seymour
Executive Producer: Nicole Beyer – Theatre Network Victoria
Australian Theatre Forum 2013 is a Centenary of Canberra project, proudly supported by the ACT Government and Australian Government.