Champion of Creativity, Culture and Community
Adelaide Fringe has long been a champion of creativity, culture and community and their commitment to First Nations young people is no exception. Tara MacLeod, Executive Director – Operations & Finance, shares how the organisation’s partnership with AFL SportsReady has been a pathway for First Nations trainees.
Tara explains that Adelaide Fringe’s decision to take on trainees stemmed from their Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), launched in 2022.
We recognised that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples had long been underrepresented in the arts and in the workforce, despite their deep cultural connection in this area. Our RAP formalised the approach and strategies we had been working towards for years. The Traineeship Program really came from that. It was about formalising our genuine commitment to inclusion, reconciliation and representation.
For Adelaide Fringe, creating these pathways is about reflecting the communities they serve.
By opening doors for First Nations young people, we are not only creating opportunities, they are changing the future of our industry here in South Australia.
The AFL SportsReady and Fringe partnership has been running for around 10 years and has only grown stronger with time. Trainees rotate across different departments, including operations, ticketing, artist services, business development and marketing. Ensuring they gain a holistic understanding of how the Fringe (and business more broadly) functions. This approach allows trainees to explore different areas before deciding which path they want to specialise in. Offering flexibility that both trainees and staff have praised.
Many people think that arts roles aren’t stable or year-round. But as a not-for-profit, we have departments like Legal, HR, Finance and Business Development. There are so many opportunities here.
Beyond professional skills, the program has a broader cultural impact.
Having First Nations trainees in the organisation brings fresh perspectives and lived experiences that enrich decision-making and spark important conversations. Staff have become more thoughtful and collaborative. Challenging unconscious bias and deepening their understanding of First Nations culture and storytelling. It has truly been an enriching expereince for our team and organisation.
Tara highlights the crucial role AFL SportsReady mentors play in the program.
Support from AFL SportsReady, especially from Mentor Anzac, has been key. His guidance, cultural insight and mentorship have been invaluable for the success of our trainees. Without that support, this program simply wouldn’t work.
The program is now a permanent fixture at Adelaide Fringe and Tara hopes it inspires other arts organisations to take similar steps.
Ultimately, we want the next generation of First Nations professionals to stay in the arts.
Take on leadership roles and help shape festivals, curation and storytelling. Starting with intention, listening to community voices and building programs with them not for them is essential.
Through their RAP and AFL SportsReady partnership, Adelaide Fringe continues to lead by example. By creating meaningful pathways, championing cultural understanding and fostering the next generation of First Nations leaders in the arts.
Are you interested in how you can support the next generation?
