Adelaide College of the Arts launched

Christie Anthoney leads a tour of AC Arts

TAFE SA's Adelaide Centre for the Arts has a new Artistic Director, a new Board and a name change, all part of a new direction for vocational arts training in the state.

Employment, Training and Further Education Minister, Michael O'Brien says the changes are among a number of strategic developments aimed at boosting the profile of arts training in South Australia.

"The centre will now be known as the Adelaide College of the Arts or AC Arts," Mr O'Brien said.

"A new Arts Advisory Board – to be chaired by acclaimed singer, writer, director and public advocate of the arts, Robyn Archer, AO – has been established to encourage artistic excellence and assist in establishing AC Arts as an iconic, exciting and competitive arts training campus," Mr O'Brien said.

"Frank Ford AM has agreed to be the Patron for the Adelaide College of the Arts and members of the new Board include arts luminaries such as Greg Mackie OAM, Rosalba Clemente and Stephen Bowers."

Mr O'Brien also announced that Adelaide Fringe Director, Christie Anthoney, had been appointed for three years as inaugural Artistic Director of the Adelaide College of the Arts.

Welcoming the appointment, Minister Assisting the Premier in the Arts, John Hill said Christie Anthoney had been the Fringe Director for the past four years, successfully overseeing its transition from a biennial to annual event.

"I'm delighted to have Christie Anthoney on board to lead and inspire our arts students and staff. She has immense experience in arts administration and a great vision for arts in our State.

"As Artistic Director, Christie will develop the public image and reputation of AC Arts as a leading arts education and training institution both nationally and internationally.

She will provide strategic and operational advice to further improve arts education and training in South Australia," Mr Hill said.
Mr O'Brien said the college would be positioned as a Lead Centre for arts, one of the aims of the State Government's Skills Strategy, to establish centres of excellence closely linked to industry.

"AC Arts will become a focal point for arts training in South Australia, offering students a flexible curriculum. It will also be a hub for arts education, engaging, driving and creating partnerships with the arts community and other supporting campuses in SA.

"The Adelaide College of the Arts in the city west's arts and education hub, is an iconic building and has traction and appeal as a lead centre in arts training, not only within TAFE SA, but within the national and international arts training sector," Mr O'Brien said.

Robyn Archer was commissioned by the Department of Premier and Cabinet (Arts SA) and the Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology to recommend renewed directions for this campus and its connections with the arts industry.

A new website for the TAFE SA Adelaide College of the Arts www.acarts.edu.au has also been produced.

AC Arts Advisory Board members:

• Ms Robyn Archer AO (Chair) is the Artistic Director of Australian and international arts festivals.She is a singer, writer, director, artistic director, and public advocate of the arts, mainly in Australia though her reach is global.
• Mr Stephen Bowers, Managing Director Jam Factory and has substantial career experience in the visual arts both as an artist and as an administrator.
• Ms Rosalba Clemente, Chair - Theatre Board for the Australia Council for the Arts, theatre director, actor and playwright.
• Mr Geoff Cobham, Freelance theatre designer and owner of a company specialising in lighting and design.
• Ms Jane Covernton, Highly respected book publisher.
• Mr Andrew Ford, Director, Woods Bagot and is one of the leading design principals in Australia with proven creative, technical and professional abilities in architecture and interior design.
• Ms Kate Gould, General Manager and Associate Artistic Director, Adelaide Festival Corporation and Member of the Helpmann Board of Directors.
• Mr Steve Grieve, Country Arts SA Board of Trustees and Design Architect, Grieve Gillett Pty Ltd.
• Ms Adele Hann, Associate Director Adelaide Film Festival and has worked as a producer and program manager with the Media Resource Centre as well as a film, video and new media curator.
• Ms Margo Hill-Smith, Manager, Hill Smith Gallery in Adelaide.
• Mr Greg Mackie OAM, Deputy Chief Executive, Cultural Development and Corporate, Department of Premier and Cabinet.
• Mr Justin Macdonnell, Executive Director of the Anzarts Institute and previously held positions in Arts Management in Australia, New Zealand and USA.

AC Arts Patron:

Mr Frank Ford AM, Frank Ford, Director, producer, playwright, administrator, educator, academic and tireless advocate for the performing arts. Frank Ford was the founder of the Adelaide Fringe, a result of his original vision that South Australia boasts the largest Fringe event of its kind in the southern hemisphere.

AC Arts Artistic Director:

Christie Anthoney has been the Fringe Director for the past four years, successfully overseeing the transition from a biennial event to an annual event. Previously, she managed other major arts events in South Australia and internationally – she was the site manager for WOMADelaide in 2004-2006 – and a volunteer manager at the Glastonbury Festival in the UK from 2002-2005.