2018 NIDA Annual Report ABOUT CONTENTS NIDA The National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) is a public, not-for-profit company limited Message from the Executive Chairman 4 by guarantee, specifically charged with the delivery of elite level dramatic arts education and training by the Australian Government. The Conservatoire 6 As Australia’s pre-eminent dramatic arts conservatoire, NIDA’s practice-based Higher Education statistics 11 teaching and learning provides the strongest foundations for graduate employment across a broad range of career opportunities and contexts. Recognised as one of the Vocational Studies 12 world’s best drama schools, The Hollywood Reporter’s 2018 ranking places NIDA in Vocational Studies statistics 14 the top 10 internationally alongside London’s Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and New York’s Juilliard School. National and International placements 15 Funded by the Australian Government through the Department of Communications NIDA Open, NIDA Corporate, and the Arts, NIDA continues a historical association with UNSW Sydney and is a NIDA Melbourne and NIDA Theatres 16 member of the Australian Roundtable for Arts Training Excellence (ARTS8). NIDA maintains strong links with national and international arts training organisations and People and Culture 20 industry partners including theatre, dance and opera companies, cultural festivals and film and television producers. Strategy and Development 22 Entry to NIDA is highly competitive with more than 1,500 applicants from around Alumni award-winners 2018 24 Australia and internationally competing for an annual offering of approximately 165 NIDA Foundation Trust 25 places across the undergraduate, graduate and vocational programs. The student body totalled 295 in 2018. Student productions 2018 26 NIDA engages the wider community through the national NIDA Open short course Graduates 2018 36 program, NIDA Corporate communications training and hire of the NIDA Theatres venues, enabling more people to experience NIDA’s renowned education, training and facilities. NIDA Board and Executive team 42 NIDA also maintains a highly active program of community engagement Governance 43 and partnerships that assist in fundraising through private philanthropy and corporate sponsorship. Financial report 44 Donors and partners 70 REGISTERED OFFICE NIDA is registered by the Australian Skills 215 Anzac Parade Quality Authority under the National Kensington NSW 2033 Australia Vocational Education and Regulator Act 2011 as an NVR Registered Training POSTAL ADDRESS Organisation (RTO): ID number 90349. NIDA UNSW Sydney NSW 2052 Australia NIDA is located at UNSW Sydney TEL +61 2 9697 7600 FAX +61 2 9662 7415 EMAIL [email protected] WEB nida.edu.au National Institute of Dramatic Art is AUSTRALIAN COMPANY NUMBER supported by the Australian Government 000 257 741 AUSTRALIAN BUSINESS NUMBER 99 000 257 741 PROVIDER ID PRV12052 CRICOS PROVIDER CODE 00756M RTO CODE 90349 Images, this page (from top to bottom): Musical Theatre Cabaret Project (Photo: Patrick Boland), Venus in Fur, backstage (Photo: Lisa Tomasetti) Opposite page: The Way of the World (Photo: Lisa Tomasetti) 2 3 MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN In other changes, Mark Gaal is the year Bachelor students as well as Masters The NIDA Melbourne office consolidated Award for Outstanding Contribution to of the NIDA Board were re-elected: Peter Executive Director, Pathways and students from the Directing, Design and its presence in the Victorian arts Design; while Michael Hankin received the Ivany AM, Justin Ryan, and Noel Staunton, Partnerships, which oversees the delivery Writing for Performance courses. community by delivering a range of Kristian Fredrikson Scholarship for Design who was subsequently re-elected as innovative series of events including in the Performing Arts and more recent Deputy Chairman. of NIDA’s Vocational studies training and One of the key benefits of a NIDA the popular NIDAnights. Acting graduate, Emele Ugavule, received industry partnership opportunities, and education remains the industry I would like to acknowledge and thank a Create NSW Fellowship. Dr Melissa Laird is Executive Director, partnerships, tours and placements. The outstanding work of the NIDA three long-term Company Members, Student Engagement, Learning and Quality The conservatoire and Vocational Foundation Trust (NFT), led by Chairman In governance matters, the Academic Pamela Rabe, Peter England and Storry Assurance. I would also like to thank studies courses provide our students Peter Ivany AM, supports NIDA financially Board of NIDA, led by Chair Professor Walton AM who completed their terms Robyn Archer AO for her support as Chair, with diverse opportunities working with and I would like to thank the NFT Prem Ramburuth, provided critical during the year, and we welcomed new Master of Fine Arts (Cultural Leadership) the Sydney Chamber Opera, Pinchgut directors for their ongoing commitment guidance as a new organisational model company members Philip Quast, NIDA during the past three years, and thank Opera, triple j, RGM Productions, NSW in supporting our exceptional educational was developed and to ensure that our alumnus and world-renowned actor and Associate Professor Cheryl Stock AM for Arts Unit, Adelaide Festival, Edinburgh experiences. Our donors continued to quality assurance and educational singer, and Catherine West, business and her contribution to its growing success Festival, and Theatertreffen festival provide generous support ensuring over outcomes continue to meet the Higher legal affairs expert. as both Head of Cultural Leadership and in Berlin. An exciting program, The 110 students received financial support Education Standards. Professor On 29 October, Kate Cherry stepped the Graduate School. In December we Change-Makers, led by former Director/ through our bursary and scholarship Ramburuth served on the NIDA Board as down as Director/CEO after leading NIDA welcomed Karilyn Brown as the new CEO Kate Cherry, was scheduled program. The high cost of living in a director from May 2012 to May 2018, through a challenging 20 months during Course Leader in Cultural Leadership. over the year with all students Sydney means that this support is critical retiring by rotation, and continued as I am pleased to report that while 2018 which NIDA refined its organisational invited to special presentations from and we thank our longstanding and new Chair, Academic Board for a 12-month presented some major challenges, NIDA NIDA’s tertiary, vocational and training arms structure and reviewed its funding Margot Robbie and the Lucky Chap donors for their generosity. The ongoing period at the request of the NIDA Board. finished the year with a strong financial continue to grow and flourish and I would models. I would like to extend the Entertainment team, Tim Minchin, support of our capital campaign donors Her time and commitment to NIDA has result and refocused organisational like to extend my thanks to our leadership Board’s thanks to Ms Cherry for her Sarah Snook, Mel Gibson AO and has ensured that our Graduate School been unstinting. structure and purpose. It was also very teams in the Conservatoire, Pathways and strong investment in NIDA and wish her heartening to see that NIDA was ranked Lyndon Terracini AM. provides a wonderful venue for our NIDA Open and NIDA Corporate divisions. At the 23 May 2018 Annual General well as she returns to pursue theatre the 10th best drama school for acting Masters degrees. Welcome Week in January saw a record The supportive relationship between Meeting of the NIDA Company, Ms Suanne collaborations in Australia and overseas. in the world and was the only drama intake of new students including 64 NIDA and UNSW Sydney was reconfirmed NIDA alumni continue to deliver star talent Colley retired at the end of her first term school outside the UK and USA to be My profound thanks to the NIDA Bachelor, 34 Masters and 70 Vocational in a new five-year Memorandum of throughout Australia and internationally as a director, and Ms Virginia Braden ranked as such. leadership and their teams, to the NIDA studies students. Both board member Understanding. A number of partnerships in all disciplines. Alumni won 27 major OAM, former Board director 2010–2016, Board, the staff and students who believe and award-winning Australian actor Sigrid were progressed with UNSW iCinema, awards in 2018 including Deborah retired as an external member of the The surplus for the financial year was strongly in NIDA’s vision and mission and Thornton, and former Circus Oz director the Sydney Fringe Festival, and NIDA Riley who received a BAFTA, Emmy Audit, Finance and Risk Committee. Mr $230,917. During the year our short have continued to work incredibly hard Mike Finch addressed the students and Melbourne partnered with Experimenta and Art Directors Guild Award (USA) for Alex Pollak continues to serve on the courses and venue hire business to deliver and demand an exceptional shared their experience. Media Arts to feature tech-forward artists her production design on HBO Drama Audit, Finance and Risk Committee as performed significantly well; combined performing arts experience in 2018. revenue from NIDA Open, NIDA Corporate, The 20 May Graduation Ceremony was a discussing the intersection between series Game of Thrones, season 4 to an external member. The Hon Richard NIDA Theatres and VET increased by wonderful event with speakers including technology and performance. NIDA 8. Congratulations to Robyn Nevin AM, Refshauge SC, and Roger