Peak body for performing arts touring calls it a day

Changes to the sector, coupled with funding strictures and the need to avoid duplicating services, have led to the Performing Arts Touring Alliance winding up.

A scene from the 2018 regional tour of Skylab, a Black Swan State Theatre Company and Yirra Yaakin co-production.

The Performing Arts Touring Alliance (PATA) was established in 2009 in order to strengthen the touring sector nationally. It has now officially been disbanded.

‘PATA existed as a medium-term national strategy, supported by the Australia Council, to drive better communication and unity of purpose amongst venues, producers, government instrumentalities and peak bodies that deliver performing arts touring across Australia,’ said Rachel Healy, co-Artistic Director of Adelaide Festival and the most recent PATA Chair.

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Richard Watts is ArtsHub's National Performing Arts Editor; he also presents the weekly program SmartArts on Three Triple R FM, and serves as the Chair of La Mama Theatre's volunteer Committee of Management. Richard is a life member of the Melbourne Queer Film Festival, and was awarded the status of Melbourne Fringe Living Legend in 2017. In 2020 he was awarded the Sidney Myer Performing Arts Awards' Facilitator's Prize. Most recently, Richard was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Green Room Awards Association in June 2021. Follow him on Twitter: @richardthewatts