We are seeking to support projects that will engage audiences or the public through live performance or performance installation, working in any art form. Proposed projects may have an intended outcome in a venue, site, or digital platform.

Works can be at any stage of development and, while an outcome is expected at the end of the program, this could take the form of a research sharing, work in progress showing, or public performance.

RAWspace in 2025 will be structured a little differently from recent years. 2025 activity will focus on collaborations between Tasmanian artists that wish to forge intra and interstate pathways for further creative development through a rigorous process of critical alliance and relationships.

It will constitute of three types of activities that you and your team will be required to participate in.

1. A five day residency at the Theatre Royal of your own planning and creative development.
2. A day to meet your chosen mentors and industry professionals and peers.
3. A day to present and share your discoveries with each other and invited guests.

You and your team will be required to commit across one of the following four weeks for your creative development.

• 26 – 30 May 2025
• 2 – 6 June 2025
• 9 – 13 June 2025
• 16 – 20 June 2025

You must also be available to participate in:

• Two full day intensives on Sat 7 June 2025 & Sat 21 June 2025.

Funding of up to $5,000 per project

• The funds provided will need to contribute to creative fees, materials and/or production costs (you will need to provide a project budget - see below).
• Funding from other sources is encouraged but not required.
• Theatre Royal will provide the Studio Theatre to be used as a development / rehearsal space with some access to technical equipment and technical support – to be negotiated, depending on project requirements.

Development & presentation space

We will make The Theatre Royal’s Studio Theatre the exclusive and available space for each creative development project to use for the five day Monday to Friday period.

Access to mentors and industry professionals and peers.

Whilst your 2025 activity will primarily focus on collaborations between Tasmanian artists, your application gives you the opportunity to nominate up to 3 interstate people you would you like us to introduce your work to as a mentor, industry professionals or critically supportive peer.

They can be potential collaborators, producers, artistic directors, dramaturgs, outside eyes, writers, directors, scenic artists, lighting designers, sound designers, composers, or people who might know people in the industry to get you and your work that bit further.

You will need to give us details as to why you think they might suitable and influential to you and the work you are developing and if you know them, you will be asked for their credentials and to provide their contact details.

Depending on schedules and availability we will aim to introduce you to at least one of your nominations for you to engage with you across one of the two intensive days.

Presentation of a work-in-progress showing, or public performance.

All projects will share an outcome of their development in a suitable format, which could include:

• A talk/presentation of research or concept development.
• A short showing, or excerpts of work-in-progress; or
• A full performance that is in development.

The RAWspace program is open to:

• Independent Tasmanian artists, or groups of artists, at any stage of their career.

• Lead artists must be residents of Tasmania.

• It is understood that artists may be working with or receiving support from a funded company, however, proposals will only be accepted from the individual artist and not a funded company.

We want to support the development of new work or provide the space and resources to realise an existing work in development.

We are especially interested in (but not limited to) receiving applications that;

• Are sophisticated and relevant in their proposed community needs and engagement processes.
• Are innovative in the way they encompass their approach to cross artform / multimedia / screen based.
• Are performance works that intend to have a public outcome at some point. Projects may be at any stage of development, and we encourage diverse form and content.

We are not looking for:

• Work that has had or is about to have a public outcome.

You and your team will be required to commit across one of the following four weeks for your creative development.

• 26 – 30 May 2025
• 2 – 6 June 2025
• 9 – 13 June 2025
• 16 – 20 June 2025

Upon application, you and your team will need to ensure you are all be available for all four weeks and then we will allocate a week to the successful applicants and their project.

Applicants will also need to be available to participate in;

• Two full day intensives on Sat 7 June 2025 & Sat 21 June 2025.

In your application you will need to supply a list of confirmed artists signed by all artists / creatives that you wish to collaborate with during your development.

We encourage proposals from artists from diverse cultural backgrounds, people with disability, and LGBTQAI+ artists.

Proposals should include the following information:

Project description (400 words max.)

• What is the idea?
• What is the form of the work?
• What development has already taken place?

Creative Outcomes (200 words max)

• Name three creative outcomes are you seeking to achieve through your five day RAWspace residency.

Audience engagement (250 words max.)

• Who is your intended community that you intend to work with or attract?
• Who is your intended audience that you may want to see the finished work?
• What will be the request of the community and / or the audiences experience?

Project management

• Provide a brief timeline outlining the proposed development process / activity of the three creative outcomes are you seeking to achieve across the 5 days of your development?
• Give a brief overview of any technical requirements you might have, noting the Theatre Royal will provide basic needs (the space and work lights), while additional resources will need discussion with the Theatre Royal Program Manager.
• Who from interstate would you like us to introduce your work to? Please name up to three (3) potential collaborators, producers, artistic directors, dramaturgs, outside eyes, writers, directors, scenic artists, lighting designers, sound designers, composers, people who might know people. Please give us details as to why you think they might suitable and influential to you and the work you are developing and if you know them, please tell us how you know them, their credentials and provide their contact details.

• If you require assistance in the auspice of your funds from this project, please enquire with:

  Auspicious Arts
  Collingwood Yards,
  Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country
  103/35 Johnston Street
  Collingwood VIC 3066
  Phone: (03) 9690 6131

• Provide a budget outlining project expenditure, any income sources received or expected, and the amount requested through RAWspace 2025 (max. $5,000) – a template is available to download on the application form should you need one.

Support material

Please provide artists bios and some examples of key collaborators’ previous work, as well as any existing material for your proposed project.

Our preference for audio and video material (up to a maximum of 5 minutes duration) is to be linked to a URL. If attaching files, they should be no more than 5MB. .

Apply online now!

If you have difficulty submitting your support material, please contact Steve Mayhew, Program Manager via email programming@theatreroyal.com.au

Applications close 5pm, Fri 31 January 2025.

A selection panel chaired by the Theatre Royal will consider all proposals. All applicants will be notified in the week commencing 24 February 2025.

Will the Theatre Royal produce successful projects?

Theatre Royal does not currently have the capacity to produce new work, however, we will work with artists to identify the most appropriate resources and process required to realise their project. Note that, in 2025, Performing Lines will support one RAWspace project by providing additional producing support beyond the initial residency.

Will the Theatre Royal present successful projects?

We are interested in presenting new work within our annual Season. 2025 marks a year where three former RAWspace residencies will premiere in Tasmania.

Keep a look out for LIFE/CYCLE by Jane Longhurst (Hobart), Wilds by ROOKE (Launceston & Hobart) and Finding the Boy Beyond the Rainbow by Rod Anderson (Hobart).

There are a range of factors that we consider when curating our program, which we can discuss with creative teams.

What venues would Theatre Royal present work in?

We have two theatres – the 698-seat heritage Theatre Royal and 284-seat Studio Theatre. We are also keen to use other spaces in and around our building, including the Ian Potter Recital Hall or The Salon within The Hedberg. Off-site works are also a possibility.

If I take up this opportunity must the work be presented by the Theatre Royal?

No, not everything will be relevant or suitable for the Theatre Royal. Part of the program will be helping successful projects realise the most appropriate long-term production ambitions and how to achieve those. Future presentations of the work will require an acknowledgment of support received through the RAWspace program.

Can I nominate my project to be supported by Performing Lines, Tasmania?

You may nominate your project be supported by the Performing Lines Tasmania offer, however this doesn’t exclude others who haven’t nominated their project. Performing Lines Tasmania will consider all proposals for their support.

What do you mean by “any art form”, or “diverse art forms”?

We’re trying not to be too prescriptive. We know that the type of work artists are making and the ways they are making it, are constantly changing and being redefined. The interests and demands of audiences are also continually changing.

While we would like to support performance projects that engage audiences in some way, they could take a range of different forms, including:

• Devised performance
• Text-based plays
• Dance
• Spoken word
• Performance lecture
• Musical theatre or cabaret
• Performance installation
• Digital outcomes, including Virtual Reality (VR) / Augmented Reality (AR) projects
• Radio plays or podcasts
• Multidisciplinary projects

You don’t have to fit into a category, just tell us what your form is, or you think it could be, and how people might experience or engage with your work.

What if I don’t know who the audience for my work will be?

Don’t panic, you don’t need to know everything yet. We have asked applicants to identify potential audiences or audience experience because, ultimately, we are interested in work that engages with the public in some way, either as audience members or participants. Your idea might not have reached that stage yet, but at some point, we want you to think about and develop an audience for your work.

I’ve already received funding, is my project still eligible?

Yes it is. We won’t discriminate against projects with or without funding, as you long as you can demonstrate that you have adequate resources to undertake the project and that artists are being paid.

We are a company with annual funding, can we apply?

We are prioritising support for independent artists and groups who don’t currently receive annual funding. If you receive annual funding to develop and present work, we should have a separate discussion about how you might partner with the Theatre Royal.

What technical equipment is available in the space?

We can provide you a standard rehearsal kit:

• Projector
• Screen
• Mixing Desk
• Speakers
• 2 x Microphones
• Tables
• Chairs
• DSLR Camera for stills and 4K video

We will discuss any requirements excess to the above.

The Studio Theatre will be provided with basic work lights, not access to the full lighting grid. Access to and experimenting with additional lighting or technical equipment, and appropriate personnel for their operation, can be discussed.

We will help by providing in-house support where we can, but the extent of this will depend on the project and our capacity at the time. For example, if you have a work that has a high level of tech needs and requires constant operation, you will probably need to factor in a tech or production manager within your team and budget. Here’s a link to what we have available in the Studio.

If I have my own technician, can they operate Theatre Royal equipment?

This will depend on the equipment and personnel. As a rule, the use of our equipment requires supervision from the Theatre Royal’s technical staff. We have allocated some technical support to each project, however, and will work with you to assess your requirements, available equipment, the capacity of personnel, and any other requirements around training or supervision.

Will I still own the copyright in my work?

Yes, you will. We will have an agreement with you that explicitly states artists retain all intellectual property rights, and moral rights, in work they create.

Does marketing support include a photographer for a hero image?

No, it does not. This would need to be an external contractor who you would have to source and pay for. We can help with some great contacts though.

My collaborators are outside Tasmania? Is there reliable internet inside the venue?

Yes, we have great Wi-Fi, which will be made available to your team.

Can I use other areas in the Theatre Royal & The Hedberg and bring the public into it?

Possibly. This will depend on the production schedule across our venues and what you would like to do. Use of the space and some equipment may require an induction or supervision.

What kind of support can you offer regarding performance, dramaturgy, set design, film and projection advice?

It is best that you factor creative expertise and collaborations into your plan and team. We can certainly help identify potential collaborators or advisors. As mentioned above, all projects will share the outcome of their development. We would hope to use a showing to facilitate critical feedback from professional practitioners, producers, and technicians. Artists may also like to present work to the public to seek feedback from audiences, or test audience engagement strategies.