The Australian Festival of Chamber Music (AFCM) and Musica Viva Australia have announced the signing of an agreement that will see AFCM engage Musica Viva to provide artist support services to AFCM.
AFCM Executive Director Gavin Findlay was in Sydney last week to sign the agreement with Musica Viva CEO Hywel Sims, and to brief Musica Viva staff who will be working alongside the AFCM team, and Artistic Director, Kathryn Stott.
“The opportunity for strategic engagement with Musica Viva has come at an ideal time for our Festival,” said Mr Findlay. “As we enter our fourth decade, the organization has been reflecting deeply on what is needed to provide an appropriate level of professional support to our visiting artists, and this is an area where Musica Viva’s experience is unparalleled.”
“Musica Viva has had a long history of collaboration with artists and other arts organisations and actively seeks opportunities to support others through combining talents,” said Mr Sims. “Therefore, we’re delighted to bring our expertise in effective artist support to the Australian Festival of Chamber Music and look forward to working with their team.”
Under the agreement, Musica Viva staff will manage artist liaison leading up to AFCM 2020, including travel and accommodation, sourcing and distributing sheet music, administering artists’ contracts, and scheduling the Festival’s intensive rehearsal schedule.
They will also be on the ground in Townsville during the ten-day event to ensure the artist experience is “both happy and professional”. Musica Viva will also assist just-announced incoming Artistic Director, UK violinist Jack Liebeck, in the operational aspects of contracting artists for the 2021 Festival.
“AFCM has been proudly based in Townsville, North Queensland for 30 years, and we will be strengthening our commitment to the region by expanding the administrative team in our Townsville office,” said Mr. Findlay. “This, combined with the new artistic director appointment, will ensure that the professionalism of the administration aspect of the Festival matches the artistic excellence for which we have always been famous.”
The 2020 Australian Festival of Chamber Music takes place in Townsville and runs 31 July – 9 August. Full program and artist line-up will be announced on Tuesday 25 February. For more information, visit: www.afcm.com.au for details.
Image: Musica Viva CEO Hywel Sims and AFCM Executive Director Gavin Findlay (supplied)