Making your dance happen despite the federal budget
Image by M-art production
Contributed by Julie Englefield, Executive Director - Ausdance QLD
I joined Ausdance QLD, the peak body for all dance in the state, on the 8th of March 2020.
There is always a pause after I say that, as people do the calculations in their head. Yes. It was a week before our entire sector shut down for COVID. It was even bigger than that – the term ‘no dancing’ was specifically included in all government communications about restrictions. We had a lot of work to do.
It was a remarkable and happy coincidence to have the right people in the right place at the right time. We were the right people because there were no favourites, no preconceived ideas, no bias. Our board and support network were unrelenting in their support and action.
We worked closely with our members, Arts Queensland, our arts peak body colleagues, the national Ausdance network, Commissioner for Small Business (QLD), business industry peak bodies and Queensland Health to deliver two major pieces of work which facilitated the return to dance both in Queensland and across the nation.
Our membership grew from 120 to over 1000 in 2020. It is now just on 1600, representing all dance types, styles, traditions and organisational structures across the state. We are 67% regional and cover more than 100 different styles of dance.
We often say Covid exposed the gaps. In the arts & creative industries we must not return to normal – we must address these gaps. In 2020 and 2021 Ausdance QLD began listening to the most passionate, diverse, challenging, and worthwhile groups of people to understand the gaps and work out how to fill them. As a sector of dancers, teachers, leaders, ‘makers’, administrators, fundraisers, business owners, community leaders, designers, costume-makers, technicians, CEOs, marketers, accountants and skilled boards, we must work smarter.
The purpose of a peak body is to increase our members’ ability to do their jobs better. The best way Ausdance QLD can do this is by giving our sector the tools they need to have long, financially rewarding (note, I’m not just saying ‘sustainable’), socially and creatively enriching careers somewhere in the dance sector.
About the author
Julie Englefield
Executive Director, Ausdance QLD
Julie has worked across the disciplines of music, theatre, visual and performing arts in general management, fundraising, sales and marketing for over 25 years.
Her experience in both the commercial (Steinway & Sons) and non-profit (arts and health sectors) provide her with unique insight into what is required for successful and sustainable partnerships. Julie has a solid background in non-profit governance, having also been part of the Singapore Government’s workgroup to develop a national Code of Governance for non-profits. In particular, Julie’s belief in and understanding of the Arts has enabled her to walk the fine line of building commercially robust organisations whilst retaining absolute integrity of artistic purpose.