Aboriginal Centre for the Performing Arts

Performing arts organization in Australia

27°28′31″S 153°02′12″E﻿ / ﻿27.4754°S 153.0367°E﻿ / -27.4754; 153.0367

A 2012 ACPA production

The Aboriginal Centre for the Performing Arts (ACPA) is a national Australian institution for the culturally sensitive training of Aboriginal Australian and Torres Strait Islander people in the performing arts. Founded in 1997, it has been located in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, since 2017.

## History

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The proposal for a national training institution for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander performing arts first arose in 1994, as part of the federal government's national arts policy, "Creative Nation". In 1997 the Queensland Government engaged choreographer and dancer Michael Leslie to establish the Aboriginal Centre for the Performing Arts, and in 1998 classes were first held at the Metro Arts building in Edward Street, Brisbane.[1]

ACPA moved first to South Brisbane, then to Kangaroo Point. In January 2017, ACPA moved again, to the Judith Wright Arts Centre in Fortitude Valley, where greatly improved facilities include purpose-built studios for music, acting and dance.[2]

## Description

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The organisation teaches Indigenous and non-Indigenous acting, music and dance. It has won several national awards[3] and is nationally accredited as a registered training organisation. ACPA receives funding from the Queensland and Australian governments,[4] as well as from the private sector.[5]

## Funding and governance

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The Aboriginal Centre for the Performing Arts is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland and the Department of Education and Training. ACPA's education partners include the Brisbane Arts Theatre, the University of Tasmania and Queensland University of Technology. Its corporate supporters include the Judith Wright Arts Centre, the Queensland Performing Arts Centre, the National Institute of Dramatic Art, and Ausdance Queensland. The current CEO as of January 2019[update] is Wesley Aird.[6]

## References

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1. ^ "About ACPA". ACPA. 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
2. ^ "Dance space improving their leaps and bounds". The Australian. 8 November 2012. Archived from the original on 1 November 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
3. ^ "Australian Dance Award Winners". 30 July 2011. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
4. ^ "New era for Aboriginal Centre for the Performing Arts". Queensland government. 5 November 2012. Archived from the original on 8 March 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
5. ^ "Training path". Archived from the original on 20 April 2013. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
6. ^ "Professional Staff". Aboriginal Centre for the Performing Arts. Archived from the original on 9 March 2018. Retrieved 21 March 2018.

## External links

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* Official website
* Don't Just Count Us, Let Us Count!, State Library of Queensland. Exhibition relating to the 1967 Australian Referendum, made in conjunction with ACPA.

* v
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* e

Indigenous music of Australia

Instruments|

* Bullroarer
* Clapstick
* Didgeridoo
* Lagerphone

Other|

* Aboriginal rock
* Songline
* Wangga

* v
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Performing arts schools in Australia

Acting|

* Aboriginal Centre for the Performing Arts
* Adelaide College of the Arts
* Australian Institute of Music - Dramatic Arts (formerly Australian Academy of Dramatic Art)
* Faculty of Fine Arts and Music, University of Melbourne
* National Institute of Dramatic Art
* New York Film Academy
* Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University
* Screenwise
* Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts

Dance|

* Aboriginal Centre for the Performing Arts
* Australian Ballet School
* Faculty of Fine Arts and Music, University of Melbourne
* National Aboriginal and Islander Skills Development Association
* Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts

Music|

* Aboriginal Centre for the Performing Arts
* Australian Institute of Music
* Australian National Academy of Music
* Faculty of Fine Arts and Music, University of Melbourne
* Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University
* Sydney Conservatorium of Music
* Tasmanian Conservatorium of Music
* UWA Conservatorium of Music
* Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts

Musical theatre|

* Australian Institute of Music
* Faculty of Fine Arts and Music, University of Melbourne
* Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University
* Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts

Secondary|

* Australian Performing Arts Grammar School
* Newtown High School of the Performing Arts
* Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School
* John Curtin College of the Arts

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