WRITING AUSTRALIA should call National Capital home

In November 2011 concerned ACT region arts leaders formed a new voice for the arts.

The CHILDERS GROUP advocacy is based on the principles of objectivity, independence, valuing the arts, and a pride in Australia’s national capital city and the region that surrounds it.

The CHILDERS GROUP strongly advocates for Canberra to be the formal and functional home for the newly formed organisation, Writing Australia. 

The writing sector is currently undergoing considerable change, and there is a need for a strong and coordinated voice for the sector.  Writing Australia can be that voice.

Writing Australia currently has a presence in Canberra with its administration operating from an office provided by the National Library of Australia. The National Library, in the context of the other national cultural institutions, is the appropriate place for the operational base of Writing Australia.

Not only is Canberra  Australia’s National Capital, it is the location of significant writing infrastructure, including the National Library but also the National Archives, three universities and Manning Clark House. Canberra and its surrounding regional areas have a high level of engagement in professional writing activities.

Proximity to the Australian Parliament, federal Government departments, and the network of national cultural agencies is central to the effective work of any organisation with Australia-wide responsibilities.

The CHILDERS GROUP is calling on the ACT Government, the Australia Council for the Arts, and Writing Australia to begin working towards formalising its headquarters in Canberra, Australia’s national capital city.

For more information, please contact the CHILDERS GROUP.

The CHILDERS GROUP welcomes aboard David Pereira and Michael Tear

The CHILDERS GROUP is delighted to have David Pereira and Michael Tear join us.  David and Michael bring valuable knowledge and experience in their fields of music and film respectively, as well as a long-standing commitment to arts advocacy locally, nationally and internationally.

David Pereira is best known as one of Australia’s top cellists, and his distinguished playing and teaching career spans five decades.  Based in Canberra since 1991 he teaches cello at the ANU School of Music and freelances as a performer.  David also composes, improvises, and has published three works on the subjects of cello technique and artistry. In 2010 he was awarded the Citynews Artist of the Year.  Update: as of February 2012, David Pereira is no longer involved with the Childers Group.

Michael Tear is Managing Director and co-founder of Bearcage Productions.  Bearcage is Canberra’s largest full-service film, television, video and interactive media company.  Michael is an experienced Executive Producer and Producer of film and television and has numerous television credits for Nine, ABC and FOXTEL in Australia as well as overseas. Michael’s company has won over fifty creative awards, and he was recently appointed to the Australian Government’s Creative Industry Innovation Centre Advisory Board.

Michael and David augment the CHILDERS GROUP wonderfully, and we look forward to being a strong and articulate voice for the arts in the ACT region.

More information about David Pereira and Michael Tear can be found at our ‘Areas of Expertise’ page above.