Arts Centre Melbourne And Melbourne Fringe Present TAKE OVER! 2019

Following the success of its previous two years, Arts Centre Melbourne is proud to announce that applications are now open for the third instalment of the Take Over! commission in partnership with Melbourne Fringe.

Take Over! is a unique partnership between Arts Centre Melbourne and Melbourne Fringe that will enable an independent artist, company or collective to develop a creative idea throughout 2019 to be presented for adult audiences in the Fairfax Studio during Melbourne Fringe from 18 - 22 September. Within Australia, this is a significant commission opportunity and unique in that the company is selected through an open call-out.

The successful established artist(s) will be provided with $30,000 to develop their work, gain access to rehearsal space and a tailored program of support and mentorship in producing, marketing and fundraising. In addition, a further $5,000 will be allocated to identify a mentoring artist of national or international significance which will be brokered by Arts Centre Melbourne. Further to this, Arts Centre Melbourne extends its support by buying the work and presenting it as part of the Melbourne Fringe, taking the financial risk for the season.

"We are extremely proud of the Take Over! commission, an opportunity that would not be possible without the generous support of donors Monica Lim and Konfir Kabo, and John and Lorraine Bates. This project is one of the many ways in which Arts Centre Melbourne works with and supports the small to medium and independent sector, which makes such a vital contribution to the rich and innovative creative industries in Victoria. It has been thrilling to see the results of this commission opportunity over the past two years and we look forward to supporting the 2019 Take Over! artists to make an ambitious work that we will present during Melbourne Fringe," Arts Centre Melbourne's Executive Director, Performing Arts Melanie Smith said.

Over the last two years, Take Over! has seen the creation and performance of two extraordinarily ambitious works. The first, Discordia, was an immersive and alternative world that literally took audiences all over the Fairfax Studio space, backstage and foyer. For its second year in 2018, Stephanie Lake Company collaborated with Victorian College of the Arts and Transit Dance to create Colossus, an exquisite work of dance flooding the Fairfax Studio stage with 50 dancers.

"Being able to create Colossus with the support of Take Over! was nothing less than brilliant. The commission allowed me to fulfil my dream to create a mass work for 50 dancers and the result has completely exceeded our expectations. I needed the backing of Arts Centre Melbourne and Melbourne Fringe to help realise a work of this scale and ambition, and they supported me 100%. The experience has been profound and I can't wait to see what Take Over! generates next, " choreographer Stephanie Lake said.

Arts Centre Melbourne's continued commitment to the small to medium and independent sectors has seen the organisation support a huge array of projects in the last twelve months. This support has come through commissioning, creative development, presentation and artistic development opportunities across our Contemporary Performance, Public Realm, Creative Learning and Families and Children Programming streams.

Creative Developments and Commissions have included:

• Child of Now - Robert Walton, Gendry Morales and Clare Coleman
• Staging Sites - Liz Dunn, Eugenia Lim, Victoria Hunt, Amrita Hepi and others
• Break Through Hit - Sophia Brous, Nicola Gunn and Gideon Obarzanek
• One the Bear - Black Honey Company
• Charlie and the War Against the Grannies - Alan Brough with Sarah Kriegler (Lemony St) and Kit Warhurst (Rosehaven)
• Those Who Rock - Jof O'Farrell (A Betty Amsden large scale participation project)
• The AI Party - Katerina Kokkinos and colleagues
• Gender Euphoria - Mama Alto and Maude Davey
• A new work by Andrew Bovell, Patricia Cornelius, Christos Tsiolkas, Melissa Reeves and Irine Vela

Presentations have included:

• Song for a Weary Throat - Rawcus
• I See You Like This - Jessica Wilson
• Polar Force - Speak Percussion*
• Mojo Juju: Native Tongue*
• Emma Matthews: The Space Between - by Paul Grabowsky and Steve Vizard*
• Enlighten - Born in a Taxi

*also commissioned by Arts Centre Melbourne

Creative Engagement projects have included:

• Stories in the Wall: What Lies Beneath - a major partnership between Arts Centre Melbourne, Department of Education, 160 students and 18 emerging artists
• Dig Deep - Arts Centre Melbourne's flagship youth music program led by artists including Thando, Mantra and Mohamed Komba
• Sisters on the Mic - Steph Demopoulos and Idil Ali
• Arts Industry Program
• The Art of Decolonisation - Candy Bowers

Arts Centre Melbourne is committed to providing pathways and opportunities for Australia's leading independent artists and companies.

Applications for Take Over! 2019 close at midnight on Friday 18 January 2019. For further information on the application process and submission criteria visit https://www.artscentremelbourne.com.au/learn/artist-development/take-over-2019

To post a comment, you must register and login.