Wire #5: Clauses for Concern in COVID-19

Tue 31 Mar 2020

APAM Wire #5: Clauses for Concern in COVID-19: So you have a contract and then, next minute, global pandemic and shutdown! For independent artists, organisations, tour managers, venues and presenters this is not business as usual. So what now? This APAM Wire conversation will share stories and thinking at an extraordinary time where often neither party can deliver what they intended and outside of variation and termination, Force Majeure and Acts of God clauses may come into effect.

Hosted by Suzanne Derry (Arts Law) with panelists Jeremy Blackshaw (MinterEllison), Danielle Kellie (Circa), Juanita Pope (Justice Connect), Tristan Meecham and Bec Reid (All The Queens Men).

This conversation aims to discuss the kinds of challenges COVID-19 is raising and some strategies to think through the crisis.

 

See all events Wire #5 Summary here
    MEET THE PANELISTS

    Suzanne Derry
    Director of National Partnerships and Programs / Senior Solicitor, Arts Law Centre of Australia
    Suzanne Derry is the Senior Solicitor at the Arts Law Centre of Australia, where she has worked for over 10 years. Suzanne has worked for a number of community legal centres and an entertainment law practice. Suzanne provides legal advice on a copyright, contract, defamation, debt and business structures. Suzanne enjoys educating artists about their rights and providing practical advice across a range of arts areas.

    Jeremy Blackshaw
    International Managing Partner, MinterEllison
    Jeremy is one of Australia’s leading corporate partners with a strong track record advising Australian and international clients on mergers and acquisitions and equity capital markets transactions. Jeremy is MinterEllison’s International Managing Partner. He has an extensive corporate practice experience, advising in multiple jurisdictions across a range of industry sectors including infrastructure, financial services, health, consumer brands and energy. He is Deputy Chair of Linden New Art and a director of the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

    Danielle Kellie
    Senior Producer, Circa
    Danielle began her career as a Stage Manager and Production Manager freelancing for festivals and companies around Australia and overseas such as Queensland Theatre Company; Melbourne Theatre Company; La Boite; Brisbane Festival; QPAT; Queensland Music Festival and Kooemba Jdarra. She was the resident Stage Manager of Queensland Ballet 1998 – 1999 and Opera Queensland 2003 – 2007. In 2010 Danielle commenced working at Circa moving into the Senior Producer role in 2011. Danielle produces Circa’s new creations as well as the touring and logistics for Circa’s national and international touring, averaging 400 shows in 15 countries per year.

    Tristan Meecham
    Artistic Director, All The Queens Men
    Tristan Meecham is an Artist, Performer and Director of All The Queens Men. Founded by award-winning performance artists Tristan Meecham and Bec Reid, All The Queens Men collaborate with communities of all shapes, sizes, and identities to produce transformative creative experiences that champion equality, social health, and human connection. All The Queens Men has become a leading creative voice within the LGBTI+ community nationally and internationally, most specifically for championing the rights of LGBTI+ elders. Committed to supporting health and wellbeing through creative participation and social connection, ATQM consistently partners with peak health bodies, extending reach into communities beyond the arts.

    Juanita Pope
    Head of the Not-for-profit team, JusticeConnect
    Juanita collaboratively leads the Not-for-profit Law team, delivering a unique program of national legal help services for community organisations and social enterprises. She oversees a team of lawyers, paralegals and service coordinators who provide free/low cost legal education, advice and advocacy for community organisations across Australia. She also has an active leadership role in Not-for-profit Law Training, which offers legal training for community groups. Not-for-profit Law focuses on supporting small ‘public interest’ charities and community groups with limited resources and in regional/rural areas.

    Bec Reid
    Artistic Director, All The Queens Men
    Bec is an Australian based performer, producer, director, choreographer and engagement specialist. Bec encourages people to experience their worlds in new ways through highly physical, participatory, practical, collaborative and celebratory actions. For 20+ years, Bec has passionately worked in the space where professional artists and communities converge, collaborating across projects locally, nationally and internationally.  In partnership with Tristan Meecham, Bec leads All The Queens Men. A WAAPA graduate, Bec began her professional career as Artistic Director of Stompin, in regional Tasmania, together with Luke George.  Bec was a key collaborator with German theatre makers, Rimini Protokoll as the Associate Director of reality theatre juggernauts, 100% Melbourne (City of Melbourne), 100% Darwin (Darwin Festival) and 100% Brisbane (Museum of Brisbane). Bec has collaborated with Madeleine Flynn and Tim Humphrey and together with Ian Pidd and Kate McDonald, Bec is also founder/Artistic Associate of Everybody NOW! In 2017-18, Bec was a Fellowship recipient from the Australia Council for the Arts.  Bec has continually served on various arts boards and regularly mentors young and emerging artists formally and informally. Bec’s true loves are Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Ceilidhs and Italo Disco.