Accessing the Cultural Conversation

TheatreSpace

Accessing the Cultural Conversation ARC Linkage Project
2008 – 2011

John O'Toole, Kate Donelan, Angela O'Brien, Christine Sinclair, Clare Irvine, Ricci-Jane Adams and Tim Stitz,

This large-scale and longitudinal study focuses on young people's experiences as audience members of live theatrical performance. TheatreSpace is a four-year research project investigating the responses of young people (14 – 30 years of age, at school and post-school from diverse backgrounds) to professionally-funded theatre in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. The research aims to discover what attracts, engages and sustains young people's current and future theatre attendance and what factors might exclude them. What factors promote, deter or exclude young people's engagement with theatre in Australia? The project examines the cultural choices that young people make or that adults make for them, and their real and perceived access to major artistic providers, through education and community participation.

TheatreSpace , also known as Accessing the Cultural Conversation, has been funded by: the Australian Research Council; the Universities of Melbourne, Sydney and Griffith; Sydney Opera House; Bell Shakespeare; Sydney Theatre Company; Australia Council for the Arts; Arts NSW; Queensland Performing Arts Centre; Queensland Theatre Company; Brisbane Powerhouse; the Arts Centre; Melbourne Theatre Company; Malthouse Theatre; Arena Theatre Company; and Arts Victoria.

Chief Investigators: Professor John O'Toole, Assoc. Prof. Angela O'Brien, Assoc. Prof Kate Donelan and Dr Christine Sinclair, Professor Bruce Burton and Asoc. Prof. Penelope Bundy (Griffith University); Professor Robyn Ewing, Assoc. Prof. Michel Anderson and Dr John Hughes (University of Sydney).

Project duration: 2008–2011
The project has offices in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. Head office is based at the University of Melbourne

Partner organisations of this project include: