TNA is the leading national industry development organisation for the contemporary performing arts, with a particular focus and priority for supporting independent creative practitioners and small to medium companies. TNA strengthens artists and arts organisations, influences cultural policy at three levels of government, facilitates critical debate, and advocates for a more robust, interconnected, and innovative sector.

Theatre Network Australia believes in the central role that creativity plays in a society. We want a more diverse and fair performing arts sector, which puts First Nations people first. We value independent artists, small to medium companies and large organisations and we want greater interconnections between them. We believe in life-long learning. We support different models of working, and we value flexibility. We want fair pay and conditions for our sector. We know that risk and experimentation are important. And we want ongoing, respectful but challenging conversations that connect us, open new ideas, and lead to a stronger sector.

TNA BELIEVES IN

The Arts' Value To Society

• A society that embraces and supports creativity is more robust, more egalitarian, more respectful of the past, and more prepared for the future.
• The arts are essential to our collective civic identity, and can simultaneously impact social, economic and environmental arenas.

Sector Diversity

• A diverse performing arts sector provides a richness of skills, perspectives and identities that are vital if we are to be relevant.
• The performing arts will benefit from increased participation by First Nations people, women, people with disabilities, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, children and young people, and older people.

Learning

• Life-long learning is essential and exists both inside and outside educational institutions.
• Participation in the arts is a dynamic form of learning.
• Performance, like any creative enterprise, needs to be supported to take risks, and needs to be allowed to fail.
• Research and development are essential.

Sector Ecology

• There are multiple ways for a society to support a thriving arts sector.
• Different artistic, business, funding, financial, and governance models can be effective, and flexibility is paramount.
• Small to medium performing arts companies and independent practices are career destinations (not simply pathways) and are integral to invention and innovation in contemporary performance in Australia.

Respect

• Performing arts professionals have a right to fair pay and conditions, including annual and sick leave, superannuation, family and maternity leave, long service leave, and paid professional development.
• Conversations and dialogue: that are open to all, overlapping, ongoing, critical, challenging, morphing over time, iterative, exploratory, and always respectful.