Funded Research Project

Project Title: Accessing the cultural conversation: investigating participation and non-participation of young people as audiences of live theatrical performances in Australia

Chief Investigators: Professor John O'Toole, Assoc. Prof. Angela O'Brien, Dr Kate Donelan and Dr Christine Sinclair, Professor Bruce Burton and Asoc. Prof. Penelope Bundy (Griffith University); Assoc. Prof. Robyn Ewing, Dr Michel Anderson and Dr John Hughes (University fo Sydney)

Funded by: ARC L:inkage Project grant 2007–2010

Project Summary: This large-scale and longitudinal study focuses on young people’s experiences as audience members of live theatrical performance: the factors that promote, deter or exclude their sustained engagement in Australia’s cultural conversation. It investigates the responses of young people 12-21, at school and post-school from diverse backgrounds to productions by the flagship theatre companies and cultural centres in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. It examines the cultural choices that young people make or that adults make for them, and their real and perceived access to major artistic providers, through education and community participation.