Strategic collaboration is one of the core values underpinning the Arts and Culture Plan 2019-2024. As the recommendations and investment under the Arts Plan shift into action, collaboration has emerged as a crucial component of many activities that are taking place, both in the arts and culture sector and across government.

While many things stalled once the pandemic hit in 2020, activity on some recommendations in the Arts Plan has been accelerated by the dramatically changed context.

Significant collaborative initiatives

Digital access to arts and culture has been prioritised, and a new Digital Access Consultative Group comprising representatives of key cultural heritage and art collecting organisations is finding new ways of telling South Australia’s stories.

Senior leaders of the Adelaide Festival Centre and key stakeholders now meet regularly to address challenges, build understanding and support collaboration.

One of the first major undertakings by government following the delivery of the Arts Plan was a comprehensive review of Arts South Australia’s grants and funding programs. Expedited by an ever-changing COVID-19 context and the need to keep the arts ecology alive, a new funding format was founded as the basis of COVID-19 recovery grants in early 2020. This program required major funded organisations to collaborate with and create professional work opportunities for independent artists and small-to-medium companies. These early collaboration grants have informed the establishment of Major Projects – Collaboration as one of the funding pathways within Arts South Australia’s Arts and Culture Grants Program. Several innovative and exciting creative projects were funded including:

• Decameron 2.0 by State Theatre Company SA, Act Now and more than 100 collaborators
• Floods of Fire by Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, Brink Productions, Nexus Arts, Tutti Arts, Elder Conservatorium’s Open Academy, South Australian Museum, plus dozens of independent composers musicians and storytellers
• The World’s Smallest Stage by Australian Dance Theatre, Kurruru, Restless Dance Theatre, plus a range of independent dancers and choreographers.

Another significant undertaking stemming from the Arts Plan is a major review of South Australia’s cultural statutory authorities and their governance structures. This review proposed a series of measures to refine governance processes and increase diversity across the leadership of South Australia’s major cultural institutions.

To view all Arts Plan updates, please view the Recommendations and government’s response.