We were disappointed and saddened to be informed recently that our application to Arts Tasmania for Annual Organisations funding for 2024 was not successful. We believed from feedback received that our work was favourably recognised and its impact was acknowledged.

We congratulate the organisations that have been successful in gaining multi-year or annual support in 2024, but we believe firmly in the value, quality and importance of our work and that our planned program for 2024 was more than worthy of investment. The Board of MADE is reviewing its financial situation with the ambition to develop and present our planned new work for 2024, To Carry / To Hold, in Hobart and Burnie alongside our Dance Community Connect program in the North West, and to continue our highly valued adult dance classes. However, at this stage we are not able to make an absolute commitment to achieve that ambition in it's entirety. We want to fulfil our commitment to our Ensemble, to artists, to arts workers and to our audiences, and we want to do this in a financially responsible way whilst maintaining the high standards for the work we create.

Hobart based Mature Artists Dance Experience (MADE) formed in 2005, is Australia's leading mature aged dance company. We make extraordinary and impactful performance works created by our Ensemble of dancers aged 50 and over working with leading choreographers. In 2022 with the vital support of Annual Organisations funding from Arts Tasmania we commenced the transition from a largely volunteer led company to employing a small staff team. We were delighted when this funding was renewed with an increase of 25% for our 2023 program. We believe that we have taken that investment in good faith, forming a new operational model supplemented with additional funding and earned income enabling us to present an important program of high-quality work including:

• The remount of the double bill of HandMADE and MADE TO LAST with Tasmanian choreographer Emma Porteus and UK choreographer Liz Aggiss. We were delighted to present two sold out performances in the studio at the Theatre Royal Hobart as part of their subscription season. The response and feedback from audiences was resoundingly positive.
• Touring the HandMADE and MADE TO LAST program to the Burnie Arts Centre after five years absence from the NW of the State, with great responses to the performances within their subscription season alongside a pilot program of workshops under the umbrella of MADE Dance Community Connect.
• 38 weeks of dance classes in Hobart - seven classes a week with leading tutors, most of these classes have been oversubscribed with over 60 participants each term.
• A week's residency with Dancenorth in Townsville sharing the success of our model of making great works with their participants in their Still Dancing program. Fulfilling our ambition to spread our influence nationwide.
• A master workshop series with artist Wendy Morrow that sold out in 5 days.
• An immersion and research trip to The Unconformity with Ensemble members and choreographer Liesel Zink.
• A workshop for our performance Ensemble of over 20 members led by Liesel Zink - the first taste of our new work for the first half of 2024 to be presented in Hobart and Burnie alongside the second stage of the MADE Dance Community Connect program in NW Tasmania.

In September we launched the second year of our successful Giving Program. All support is we receive is valued and makes a difference, now more than ever. More information on our Giving Program can be found here: https://madecompany.com.au/support/

Louisa Gordon - Chair
Carin Mistry - Executive Producer

Contact

Email - dance@madecompany.com.au
Telephone - 0427 198 845

"It is better than refined artistry. When they move it reminds you of where they've been, how they think, what they've been through, what they've experienced. And they take you somewhere you would normally, maybe, not have the courage to go'
Graeme Murphy AO Choreographer

Tasmania's population is ageing - it is the oldest state or territory in Australia, its population structure is ageing fastest of all states and territories. Almost 20% of Tasmania's population is over 65 years, and four local government areas (LGAs) have over 25% of the population over 65 years. Embracing the Future, Tasmania's Ageing Profile COTA 2018.