Creatives from across Queensland converged in Ipswich this week as performing arts industry representatives attended ADAPT, a two-day conference, at the Ipswich Civic Centre.
Performing artists, venues, marketing and box office professionals connected to exchange ideas and experiences with the emerging post-COVID normal on how the industry can continue to build adaptive resilience.
Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said the event was another wonderful opportunity to get behind the creative sector.
“Thank you to the Minister for Communities and Housing, Minister for Digital Economy and Minister for the Arts Hon Leanne Enoch MP for supporting Ipswich’s creative industries,” Mayor Harding said.
“ADAPT provided an opportunity for the creative sector to join forces and discuss its recovery after the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The program centred on critical decisions at pivotal moments, innovations and strategies of adaption and change, and exploring the possibilities that disruption can provide in the context of the industry’s recovery from the COVID pandemic.
Performing artists shared their stories on their response to 2020, the challenges they faced and how they adapted.
Community, Culture, Arts and Sport Committee Chair Councillor Andrew Fechner said ADAPT was well received by the performing arts sector and enjoyed excellent delegate registration numbers from around the state.
“ADAPT was an insightful and informative conference whose tone was perfectly set by musician and radio presenter Eddie Ayres’ keynote address about times of adaptive resilience in his own life,” Cr Fechner said.
“Across the conference’s two days, sessions explored topics as varied as the breadth of First Nations’ performance work in Queensland, ticketing and touring in a post-COVID world, and how festivals connect with their communities.
“A ‘reverse pitch’ session, where venues – including the Ipswich Civic Centre – discussed the type of content that works best in their venues, was another highlight.
“ADAPT was a fascinating incubator for ideas to help support and strengthen the performing arts sector beyond the pandemic, so creatives can continue to imagine and deliver wonderful arts experiences for Queensland communities”.
Ipswich City Council partnered with arTour and Stage Queensland to produce ADAPT, Queensland’s Performing Arts Conference. arTour is managed by Circa and supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.
