News

Tasmania’s 2020 Vision for the Arts

Artistic Director, Charles Parkinson will lead the ‘Tasmania towards 2020 Arts Forum’ to survey the broader community’s vision for the future in the lead up to the Prime Minister’s 2020 Summit in April 2008.

Charles Parkinson joins the brightest brains of the nation at Parliament House on April 19 and 20 to provide advice on the future direction of Australia. The Summit draws together delegates from across industries including business, sport, science and 100 hand-picked delegates from the arts including Cate Blanchett, Claudia Karvan and Andrew Denton.

“Arts is the reflection of a community’s soul. Our national identity is protected and enhanced through the arts. It is also a major player in the state and country’s economy. There has been a lot of discussion recently about the direction Australia should take over the next decade and this is our opportunity to make sure the arts has a strong presence in the discussion and that Tasmania can contribute to a strong national cultural strategy”, - Charles Parkinson.

Mr Parkinson who is set to launch a new Tasmanian Theatre Company in May 2008, will host the Tasmania towards 2020 Arts Forum. His achievements in the industry are highlighted by his time as Artistic Manger of Albury/Wodonga’s HotHouse Theatre which he grew from a company at risk of losing its funding to Australia’s most successful regional theatre and his artistic directorship of a number of other companies including the internationally renowned Flying Fruit Fly Circus.

The Forum, supported by Arts Tasmania, is open to individuals and organisations who wish to voice their opinion on the future of the arts. Design, visual arts, literature, film, music and theatre industry persons are encouraged to attend and will be invited to comment on - if you could change one thing in the arts, what would it be?

Co-presented by Is Theatre and Arts Tasmania, the Tasmania towards 2020 Arts Forum will be held at the Backspace Theatre, Sackville St Hobart (behind Theatre Royal) on Wednesday 16 April 5:30pm for a 6pm start and 7pm finish. Light refreshments will be served and drinks available.

For more information please contact Is Theatre 03 6234 8561 or visit istheatre.com