In late 2024, Arts Tasmania offered funding for a number of initiatives across the arts industry, including one for theatre, looking for an organisation to develop and deliver a plan for the future sustainability and viability of the Tasmanian theatre sector alongside capacity building and promotion of the sector.

The applicant organisation could not be one already receiving annual or multi-year  funding from Arts Tasmania, and so the Tasmanian Live Performance Exchange was developed from a collaboration between Assembly 197, Mudlark, Performing Lines TAS, ROOKE, Terrapin, Theatre Royal, Theatre North and the University of Tasmania. The Exchange was successful in securing funding from the initiative.

We now are developing a bold 10-year plan for Tasmania’s professional theatre and live performance sector.

The Exchange has engaged expert consultants Jade Lillie and Lee Casey to develop the plan with us and they are beginning the process with an industry wide consultation.

We are looking for input from both organisations and individuals involved in the theatre and live performance sector

Your insights will help shape a roadmap that responds to the state’s unique strengths, challenges and opportunities, and supports a sustainable, connected and future-ready sector.

 We have been consulting with people in the sector across the state through an online survey, and through in person and online consultation sessions with our consultants Jade Lilley and Lee Casey. They will present information on what they have found so far at the Performing Lines Tas Sector Day on 26 March.

The Consultants Developing the Plan:
Jade Lillie and Lee Casey

From Jade and Lee

We are excited to be working with the Tasmanian arts sector and the Live Performance Exchange to support the development of a bold, sector-led vision for the state’s professional theatre and live performance ecology. Together, we bring extensive national experience in strategy, facilitation and stakeholder engagement across arts, culture, community and government settings. We share a commitment to inclusive, place-based processes and to amplifying the distinct strengths, voices and ambitions of Tasmania’s theatre and live performance community.

We are here to listen deeply. The consultation sessions and survey provide opportunities to hear from you about your vision for the sector in 2035 and what might it take to get there. We will facilitate conversations that look toward the future of the live performance sector across the state and guide us toward a ten-year plan that is bold, brave and representative of the breadth of work being made in Tasmania.

About the Consultants

Jade Lillie

Jade is known for her work as a leader, executive, facilitator, and specialist in community and stakeholder engagement.

She works as a consultant, facilitator and advisor for organisations specialising in strategy, facilitation, stakeholder engagement, co-design, executive leadership recruitment, governance, people and culture. Her clients are Australia-wide, spanning the creative, cultural, community, private and public service sectors. 

Jade has worked in government (local, state and federal) and not for profit sectors with experience in regional, remote and metropolitan locations across Australia and SE Asia. She has worked in intercultural environments for twenty years and has significant experience working in collaboration with First Nations artists, organisations and communities.

From 2020 - 2022, Jade was the Head of Industry Development for the Australia Council for the Arts and led the Sector Recovery agenda during the early years of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2018, she received the prestigious Sidney Myer Fellowship for her thought leadership in community engaged practice and advocacy following her role as the Director and CEO at Footscray Community Arts Centre (2012 – 2017). Other roles include: Executive Director, Public Affairs, cohealth; Team Leader, Arts and Cultural Development, Brisbane City Council and Executive Manager, Youth and Community Programs, SpeakOut.

A history of excellent work in collaboration with artists, organisations and communities has led to Jade’s leadership in the field, continually shaping and articulating what contemporary models of service design, community engaged practice and industry development can be. She has a cross sector approach and works extensively with health, education and community organisations within Australia, connecting them with the broader local and national conversations in which she participates in and drives.

Whilst Jade has held a number of leadership roles in the sector, she is primarily known and respected for her skills and expertise in facilitation, strategy development, governance capabilities and her commitment to collaboration, cultural leadership and advocacy in championing diversity and access.

She is the curator and editor for The Relationship is the Project, a book about how to engage effectively with communities with over twenty contributors from across Australia. It is the only practitioner-led resource of this kind. The second edition has been published by New South Books in March 2024.

Jade is a passionate advocate of knowledge-sharing, co-design and self-determination. She is the Chief of Staff with Original Power and the proud Co-Chairperson for All the Queens Men.

Find out more about Jade at jadelillie.com

Lee Casey

Lee is an experienced communications and engagement leader in the creative industries.

For almost 20 years she has worked with cultural organisations to communicate their vision, attract audiences, engage stakeholders, and measure impact. She has worked for organisations such as Melbourne Festival, Southbank Centre London, ArtsHub, Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Arena Theatre Company and most recently part of the leadership team driving the cultural strategy at the University of Melbourne. She has served on Boards including Arena Theatre Company and Outer Urban Projects.

Lee has a particular passion for engaging under-represented audiences and expanding pathways for participation into the sector. She is now dedicated to helping organisations and artists to advocate for the transformational power of arts and culture through strategic planning, communications management, stakeholder engagement strategy, and impact reporting.