ATF 2015 ends in Abbott no confidence motion

The symbolic gesture, signed by 52 delegates, is a response to more than just cuts to the arts budget.
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Prime Minister Tony Abbott.

Delegates at the 2015 Australian Theatre Forum ended the four-day forum on a defiantly political note.

Following the closing keynote speech by Belgian festival-maker and curator Frie Leysen at Sydney Opera House, delegates gathered for farewell drinks at the venue’s northern foyer, overlooking the harbour. It was here that ATF curator David Williams and writer Vissolela Ndenzako jointly read aloud a Motion of No Confidence in the current Australian government.

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Richard Watts is ArtsHub's National Performing Arts Editor; he also presents the weekly program SmartArts on Three Triple R FM, and serves as the Chair of La Mama Theatre's volunteer Committee of Management. Richard is a life member of the Melbourne Queer Film Festival, and was awarded the status of Melbourne Fringe Living Legend in 2017. In 2020 he was awarded the Sidney Myer Performing Arts Awards' Facilitator's Prize. Most recently, Richard was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Green Room Awards Association in June 2021. Follow him on Twitter: @richardthewatts