APAM

Australian Performing Arts Market (www.apam.org.au) — connects contemporary Australian theatre, dance, and experimental art with national and, crucially, international opportunities. They have a year-round office and a biennual gathering which will occur in Perth for 2026, 2028 and 2030.

APAX

Australian Performing Arts Exchange (www.apax.org.au) — our largest national pitching market and conference for the performing arts. Delivered by PAC Australia, it occurs annually in different cities.

APAF

Australian Performing Arts Forum (www.apaf.com.au) — run by TNA, this biennial event focuses on knowledge sharing and addressing current policy and practice issues. It does not have a showcasing or market element. Formerly ATF (Australian Theatre Forum).

AQ

Arts Queensland (www.arts.qld.gov.au) — the state funding body for the arts in Queensland, on behalf of the Queensland Government.

Arts on Tour

Peak body for performing arts touring in NSW which advocates for artists, producers and presenters. Also provides services as a tour coordinator and producer with a national focus. (www.artsontour.com.au)

ATF

Australian Theatre Forum — see ‘APAF’

AusCo

Australia Council — see ‘Creative Australia’

Buy-in Fee

see ‘Sell-off Fee’

CAIAF

Confederation of Australian International Arts Festivals (www.caiaf.org.au) — an association of the seven major international arts festivals from each Australian state, and the Northern Territory. CAIAF administers the Australian Government’s Major Festivals Initiative (MFI) funding.

CircuitWest

CircuitWest is a service organisation for the performing arts sector in Western Australia. A membership-based, not-for-profit organisation, who coordinates touring and sector development. (www.circuitwest.com.au)

Creative Australia or CA

The Australian Government’s principal arts investment and advisory body. Rebranded from the Australia Council in 2023. Has the following sub councils: Music Australia, Writing Australia, Creative Workplaces, and the First Nations First Board. (www.creative.gov.au)

Door Split

An arrangement where the presenter and producer split the ticketing income rather than paying a presenter fee.

KPO or KPI

Key Performance Outcomes / Indicators — often referred to for measuring funding outcomes.

LAFHA or LAHA

Living Away From Home Allowance — see ‘Per Diems’

LPA

Live Performance Australia (www.liveperformance.com.au) — the peak body for performing arts producers, promoters, venues, festivals, centres and companies. They are a registered employer organisation, allowing them to negotiate industrial agreements on behalf of their membership.

Live Performance Award [MA000081] — the award which covers employers in the live performance industry and their employees who fit within the classifications of the award, from actors to stage managers to ushers. Determines appropriate working hours, pay rates and allowances.

MEAA

Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (www.meaa.org) — the largest and most established union and industry advocate for Australia’s creative professionals across live and recorded media. MEAA has four distinct sections: Equity (actors/performing artists), Media (journalism/media), Entertainment, Crew and Sport (backstage crew and designers), and Musicians (orchestral/freelance musicians)

MFI

Major Festivals Initiative — project funding from Creative Australia in partnership with CAIAF for the development and commissioning of new Australian works of scale.

MPAF

Major Performing Arts Framework — see ‘NPAPF’

NARPACA

Northern Australian Regional Performing Arts Centres Association — see ‘Stage Queensland’

NPAPF

National Performing Arts Partnership Framework — organisational funding for major performing arts organisations, administered by Creative Australia, in partnership with all states and the Northern Territory. Replaced the MPAF (Major Performing Arts Framework)

PA

Playing Australia — national fund for interstate touring. Administered by Creative Australia with a regional focus.

PAC Australia or PACA

Performing Arts Connections Australia (www.paca.org.au) — is the national peak body representing and supporting performing arts presenters and creators in Australia by providing leadership, building capacity and facilitating relationships that strengthen the connection between the art and the audience.

PCA

Performers' Collective Agreement — the standard working conditions for performers engaged in live theatre productions. It is negotiated between MEAA Equity (representing performers) and Live Performance Australia (representing producers).

Per Diems

A daily allowance for expenses that employers must pay employees to cover meals and living expenses when travelling for work. See our resource on Travel Allowances for more.

Presenter Fee

see ‘Sell-off Fee’

QShowcase

Delivered by QTouring, this showcase focuses on building touring and community engagement opportunities for Queensland artists, producers and presenters.

RAA

Regional Arts Australia (www.regionalarts.com.au) — peak body for arts in regional Australia. Also administers the Regional Arts Fund, an Australian Government program that supports sustainable cultural development in regional and remote communities in Australia.

RADF

Regional Arts Development Fund — a partnership between Arts Queensland and the various Local Governments to support arts in regional communities.

RASN

Regional Arts Services Network — a program delivered by four service providers in partnership with Arts Queensland, to create opportunities for and with regional artists in their network. Every LGA in Queensland (except City of Brisbane) is supported by one of these services providers.

Regional Arts Victoria

Membership-based organisation that coordinates touring within regional Victoria and advocates on behalf of its members. (www.rav.net.au)

Remount

The costs associated with re-rehearsing your production for the tour. This is generally only required for work that has not been staged for a significant amount of time and the performers/crew need to relearn the show.

Royalties

Royalties are a percentage of box office income paid to producers so they can remunerate personnel involved in creating the work but not necessarily members of the touring party i.e. writers, designers, and directors.

SAPA

South Australia Presenters Association (www.sapresenters.com.au) — a state association representing South Australian performing arts presenters.

Sell-off Fee

The amount of money a producer charges a presenter if they are purchasing the work for their venue. Also known as presenter fees or buy in fees.

Showcase Victoria

Delivered by VAPAC and Regional Arts Victoria in partnership, this showcase focuses on building touring and networks within Victoria. (www.showcasevictoria.com.au)

Showcase SA

Delivered by SAPA, this annual showcase connects performers directly with presenters in regional South Australia for touring opportunities.

Stage Queensland

This membership organisation is the peak body for performing arts centres in Queensland. Formerly NARPACA. (www.stagequeensland.com.au)

TNA

Theatre Network Australia (www.tna.org.au) — the leading industry development and advocacy organisation for small-to-medium organisations and independents.

TQF

Touring Queensland Fund — funding from Arts Queensland to support touring costs within Queensland.

VAPAC

Victorian Association of Performing Arts Centres (www.vapac.org.au) — peak body representing performing arts venues and theatre professionals across Victoria and Tasmania.

WA Showcase

Delivered by CircuitWest, this annual showcase is Western Australia's largest performing arts conference which works to develop tours and address the needs of the arts sector in WA.