Four of Australia’s leading regional performing arts organisations have joined forces to establish a new national pathway for developing and presenting large-scale Australian theatre, backed by funding from Creative Australia.

The newly formed Second Cities Producing Consortium has received $280,000 through Creative Australia’s Creative Futures Fund to deliver the first year of a proposed four-year pilot program.

The partnership brings together Canberra Theatre Centre, Geelong Arts Centre, Merrigong Theatre Company in Wollongong and HOTA, Home of the Arts on the Gold Coast. Collectively, the venues attract annual audiences of around 1.2 million people.

A digital rendering of Canberra Theatre Centre’s new lyric theatre. Photo courtesy of the ACT Government

The consortium aims to co-invest in the commissioning, development and presentation of new Australian theatre works, with audiences considered from the earliest stages of development. Working alongside producing companies and major venues across Australia, the partners intend to create a more sustainable model for ambitious productions to tour nationally.

The initiative also seeks to strengthen collaboration between regional arts organisations across state borders, enabling them to share resources, respond to common challenges and increase opportunities for artists and touring companies.

Canberra Theatre Centre Executive Director Georgia Hendy said the consortium recognised the growing importance of Australia’s regional cities as centres for creating and presenting major Australian stories.

“Canberra is where Australia comes together to reflect on our national identity, and our stages should be a place where Australian stories can be told with ambition, scale and impact. The Second Cities Producing Consortium creates an ambitious new pathway for Australian stories to be developed, produced and shared beyond the traditional capital-city circuit, recognising the importance of Australia’s vibrant regional cities and the audiences they serve.”

Geelong Arts Centre. Photo supplied

Geelong Arts Centre Chief Executive and Creative Director Rhys Holden said the partnership would enable regional organisations not only to present new work but also to create it, supporting artists and expanding opportunities for productions to reach audiences nationwide.

“This Consortium brings together the strength, ambition and creative energy of Australia’s second cities. Too often the conversation is dominated by our capital cities, but some of the country’s most exciting artistic work, fastest-growing communities and boldest ideas are coming from regional centres like Geelong and our partner cities across the nation.”

Merrigong Theatre Company Artistic Director and Chief Executive Simon Hinton said the initiative followed years of industry discussion about new models for developing Australian theatre that reflected the country’s changing population and growing regional centres.

The pilot is supported through strategic investment from Creative Australia, with the consortium’s member organisations also funded by their respective state and local governments.

The first projects to be developed under the Second Cities Producing Consortium are expected to be announced over the coming year.