After a difficult period without secure funding, the board and members of TNN have taken the difficult decision to cease operations at the end of 2025.
All good things must come to an end and it’s important to celebrate the successes and reflect on what is needed moving forward. We have a lot to offer before we close.
Apologies for any cross posting… we want to ensure the news is out in the world.
Please read on…
Brief History
Started in 2015, following a scoping report in 2011 conducted by Kim Hanna, TNN’s trajectory has followed a wave of challenges for the NSW performing arts sector, from the George Brandis cuts in 2016, to the summer of fires 2019/2020, the ongoing impacts of COVID-19, Northern Rivers and Mid North Coast floods, cost of living crisis and ongoing failure of Create NSW to adequately fund service organisations. The sector has felt these shocks, independent artists barely able to make a living while the wider context for our work is war, climate crisis and social upheaval.
TNN has been led by some fearless and tireless leaders – Jane Kris, Katrina Douglas and Margie Breen. Our sincere thanks to them for striving ahead in difficult times. Behind them has been a committed board featuring some extraordinary leaders in the NSW performing arts.
We have achieved!
Under their leadership, TNN helped lead the #istandwiththearts campaign in 2016, hosted several State of the Sector addresses, led a significant Well Being Summit at Sydney Opera House, offered support to artists during COVID pandemic, hosted regular State of the Sector events, supported Arts Northern Rivers with Flood Recovery in 2022 and led a State of Exchange with artists from Northern Rivers, Sydney and Western NSW in partnership with SEED Arts, Arts OutWest and Creative Recovery Network in 2024, exploring systems change and Climate Action.
Plus thousands of conversations with artists and arts workers and acts of advocacy for the small to medium performing arts sector.
What now?
Before we finally close the doors, the board is offering some workshops focused on systems change and creating a sustainable future for the performing arts in the Climate Era. These will touch on disaster preparedness and imagining positive futures together. They will be led by long term board member Pippa Bailey with various colleagues, including Kuku Yalanji artist Henrietta Baird and Scotia Monkivitch from the Creative Recovery Network.
The first workshop is being offered in partnership with Pspace at Liveworks next Friday 24th October, 10am-2pm as part of the delegates program. You can register here
We are in discussions to collaborate on a workshop with Arts Northern Rivers in November.
More information shortly…
If you have interest and capacity to host a workshop in November/ December then please get in touch with PIppa Bailey via director@tnn.org.au, its a great way to prepare for 2026 and beyond.
FAREWELL PARTY
‘Dying is an art like everything else’ – Sylvia Plath
We will host a final State of the Sector event in Sydney Tuesday 2nd December, from 5pm Please put the date in your calendar, details to follow shortly.
Our last State of the Sector will include a conversation about what the NSW performing arts sector needs now with Amrit Gill from Theatre Network Australia and some fabulous guests, reminding us of TNN’s achievements, with a call to action and a farewell party, honouring all the love, sweat and tears that has fuelled TNN.
Call to Action
NSW has the largest theatre industry of any Australian state or territory with urgent need for greater investment and support, particularly for the independent sector. We have learnt that a micro organisation staggering from project fund to project fund cannot provide this support effectively. Other approaches are needed. People are rising in these turbulent times, to defend First Nations people, Human Rights and to protect Country, many sectors are calling for systems change.
Experience tells us that when this organisation goes; artists, arts workers and good people will still be working, trying to find new pathways to make things better. By gathering people together as we wind down, we wish to offer space for new models, energies, ideas and action to start fermenting. TNN aims to end as we have carried on, caring for our sector.
We hope you will join us at a workshop and/or our final State of the Sector address and party on Tuesday December 2nd from 5.00pm. More details to follow…
Thank you for your ongoing support and passion for the performing arts in NSW.
Daniel, Jordyn, Virginia, Madeleine and Pippa
The TNN Board
