Central Coast Council is calling for artists to present and develop new performance work in Council’s ‘Performance Illuminated’ pilot program.  

The Performance Illuminated pilot program, to be run in Council owned and operated theatre venues, is intended to support emerging works and performers in Laycock Street Community Theatre, Wyoming and Peninsula Theatre, Woy Woy.

Director Community and Recreation Services Melanie Smith said the theatres were piloting three approaches in the program to attract a diverse and vibrant range of uses for the intimate stages of Council’s theatre venues in Wyoming and Woy Woy.

“By Council offering a range of supportive options for the performing arts industry to pitch ideas to use the space, we are increasing opportunities for arts on the Coast and fostering work in a variety of forms,” Ms Smith said. 

The successful applications will be selected via a panel assessment, which will make recommendations about the applications that qualify against the criteria in the assessment matrix provided in the application process. 

“Council is looking forward to seeing a diverse mix of performing artists from a cross section of the industry utilise these theatres and deliver works to help define our region as a cultural destination.

“Performance Illuminated will provide artists with opportunities to co-present new work, develop new work and the space to rehearse.”
 

The Performance Illuminated pilot program options supporting different stages of creative development are: 

1. Greenlight Season – a program that supports artists to present new performance work through a door split model available at both Peninsula Theatre and Laycock Street Community Theatre.
2. Flashlight Access – a program that supports artists to access rehearsal space in the Don Craig Room at Laycock Street Community Theatre on dark days during staffed business hours.
3. The Pen Residency – a residency program that supports artists to develop new creative work in the Peninsula Theatre. 
 

Administrator Rik Hart hopes to see professional and emerging performers take up the opportunity to apply for the pilot program, helping promote and activate Council’s owned and operated community theatres.
 

“Fostering and investing in artistic endeavours will build the collective arts culture on the Coast and deliver social and economic benefits,” Mr Hart said.

“The variety of options being piloted in the program are suited to different performers and works but they are all aimed to foster quality work, and boost performers’ bottom line while occupying our theatre venues with diverse and vibrant creative initiatives that shape our culture.”

Applications will be open throughout March, with the programs running from April to October 2024.