Victorian Association of Performing Arts Centres

What Victorian Association of Performing Arts Centres does

Victorian Association of Performing Arts Centres (VAPAC) is a non-profit membership peak body incorporated in 1985 and headquartered in Melbourne, Victoria. It represents 114 performing arts venue operators across Victoria, Tasmania, New South Wales, and the Australian Capital Territory, with approximately half of member venues managed by local government and the remainder drawn from the education and private sectors. VAPAC operates as a membership organisation under an elected Executive Committee, led by Chair Eli Dunlevie, Deputy Chair Simon Myers, and Treasurer Tim Blundell, with a small staff team of approximately 11 including a Program Producer, Marketing Manager, and Development Manager.

VAPAC's service portfolio centres on four membership tiers (Full Member Venue, Associate Member Venue, Associate Member Small Venue, and Associate Member Non-Venue) with annual fees ranging from AUD $274.70 to $2,548.01 excluding GST. Core programs include Showcase Victoria (Australia's leading state-based performing arts market), the Marketing and Ticketing Network (BOMNET), the Technical Managers Network (TMN), the Oh You Beautiful Stage theatre design publication (fourth edition, sold at AUD $330 for members and $550 for non-members inc GST), the David Lloyd Professional Learning Bursary ($1,250 ex GST), the Equity Action Plan 2024-2027, and the Industry Development Initiative delivered with Studio Entertech.

Revenue derives from recurring membership dues, publication sales, event sponsorship (ASL Systems, Digilin, Factory Sound, Humanitix, Jands, MadisonAV, NAS Solutions), and government funding from Creative Australia and Creative Victoria. Distribution is direct through the website (vapac.org.au), with secondary presence on LinkedIn, Vimeo, and a dedicated e-newsletter; the discussion board platform at discussion.vapac.org.au supports member-to-member engagement across venue management, box office and marketing, and technical management workstreams. No AI, API, or proprietary technology platform is disclosed.

Name

Victorian Association of Performing Arts Centres

Legal name

Victorian Association of Performing Arts Centres

Website

https://vapac.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

VAPAC is a 1985-founded Victorian non-profit peak body serving 114 member performing arts venues across Victoria, Tasmania, NSW, and ACT through tiered memberships, professional development networks, and the Oh You Beautiful Stage theatre design publication.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Industry Association

NAICS

Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71), Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB)

Keywords

• Performing arts centres
• Industry association
• Professional development
• Membership organization
• Venue management

Headquarters

HQ city

Melbourne

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees from four categories of members: Full Member Venue ($1,766.78/year exc GST), Associate Member Venue ($1,366.62/year exc GST), Associate Member Small Venue ($274.70/year exc GST), and Associate Member Non-Venue ($877.10-$2,548.01/year depending on staff count).
2. Publication Sales: Sale of 'Oh You Beautiful Stage', a guide to theatre design, priced at $330 for members and $550 for non-members inc GST.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

VAPAC is a membership-based peak body association that sells annual memberships to performing arts centres across Victoria, Tasmania, NSW, and ACT. Members receive access to professional development networks (Marketing & Ticketing Network, Technical Managers Network), industry events (Showcase Victoria), the "Oh You Beautiful Stage" theatre design publication, advocacy with government funders, and discounted employment listings. The organization commercialises supplementary services including publication sales, sponsorships, and the David Lloyd Professional Learning Bursary.

Product overview

VAPAC is a membership-based association for performing arts centres, offering a unified portfolio of services centered on member support, professional development, and industry resources. The core offerings include membership tiers providing access to professional networks (Marketing & Ticketing Network, Technical Managers Network), the Oh You Beautiful Stage publication for theatre design guidance, the Showcase Victoria performing arts market, professional development bursaries, and equity action initiatives. The organization serves over 114 member organizations across Victoria, Tasmania, NSW, and ACT.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• VAPAC Membership Services Four annual membership tiers (Full Member Venue, Associate Member Venue, Associate Member Small Venue, Associate Member Non-Venue) priced $274.70 to $2,548.01 (exc GST) per year, providing performing arts centres and industry organisations with access to professional development, networking, advocacy, and member-only resources.
• Oh You Beautiful Stage (OYBS) A comprehensive guide combining general advice with specific, detailed information about successful theatre design and project processes, authored by theatre design practitioners and operators. Sold for $330 (members) or $550 (non-members) inc GST. Used by performing arts centres, planners, architects, and industry specialists in Australia and internationally.
• Showcase Victoria Australia's leading state-based performing arts market providing professional development and touring opportunities for VAPAC members. Delivered as an annual event connecting artists, producers, presenters, and venues.
• Marketing & Ticketing Network (BOMNET) Professional development program for ticketing and marketing professionals at member venues, providing peer-support, industry discussions, and expert guest presentations on ticketing systems, marketing strategies, and customer service.
• Technical Managers Network (TMN) Peer-driven professional development network for technical and operational staff at member venues, meeting three times per year in-person to discuss venue operations, technical advancements, safety, mental health, and training programs.
• David Lloyd Professional Learning Bursary Annual bursary offering $1,250 (ex GST) to help arts workers from VAPAC member venues attend major national conferences for professional development and networking.
• VAPAC Equity Action Plan 2024-2027 Four-year strategic plan focused on building a culturally safer ecology for members, artists, and arts workers through training, policy development, leadership, employment, community engagement, programming, and marketing initiatives targeting First Nations people, Deaf and Disabled people, CALD people, and LGBTQIA+ people.
• Industry Development Initiative Cross-sector project addressing technical staff workforce shortages in the performing arts sector through four pillars: Training & Education, Health & Wellbeing, Workplace Culture & Industrial Relations Reform, and Peak Body Investments. Supported by project partner Studio Entertech.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 114 member organisations represented across Victoria, Tasmania, NSW, and ACT

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• ASL SystemsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor event sponsor providing AV/systems support for VAPAC events.
• DigilinminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor event sponsor for VAPAC industry events.
• Factory SoundminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAV equipment supplier and event sponsor since 1994, supporting VAPAC events with equipment and expertise.
• HumanitixminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent ticketing platform sponsor supporting VAPAC events.
• JandsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLighting and AV equipment company, major event sponsor for VAPAC.
• MadisonAVminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSpecialised AV solutions provider and event sponsor.
• NAS SolutionsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAudio equipment solutions provider and event sponsor.
• Studio EntertechcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustralia's longest-running theatre consultancy and key partner for the VAPAC Industry Development Initiative, addressing technical workforce shortages in the sector. Supporting training, career pathways, and industry development programs.
• Diversity Arts AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in VAPAC's Fair Play initiative for developing the Equity Action Plan 2024-2027, providing training on arts-specific equity and inclusion practices.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Live Performance Australia: Peak body for the live performance industry in Australia, representing producers, presenters, and venues. Comparable membership organization structure and arts sector advocacy focus.
• International Society for the Performing Arts (ISPA): Global association of performing arts industry leaders. Comparable in serving venue managers, presenters, and performing arts professionals with networking and professional development programming.
• Regional Arts Australia: National peak body for regional arts in Australia, providing advocacy, development, and networking for regional arts organizations. Similar membership/peak body model serving arts infrastructure outside major metros.
• Association of Performing Arts Professionals (APAP): US-based national membership organization for performing arts presenters, managers, and producers. Closest international analog to VAPAC's peak body role for performing arts venues.
• Performing Arts Network of New Zealand: New Zealand membership organization for performing arts practitioners and presenters. Comparable Trans-Tasman peer with similar peak body function for venue professionals.
• Performing Arts Connections Australia (PAC Australia): National peak body for the performing arts centres sector in Australia, representing venues across all states. Directly comparable business model and member base, with VAPAC operating at the state level vs. PAC at the national level.

Regional players

• Creative Victoria: Victorian state government arts agency funding and supporting the state's arts sector. Direct VAPAC partner and comparable scope at state level, though government-backed rather than membership-funded.

Broad incumbents

• Creative Australia (Australia Council for the Arts): Australian Government arts funding and advisory body. Comparable as arts sector development organization, but operating at national government level rather than as a membership association.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/victorian-association-of-performing-arts-centres

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Victorian Association of Performing Arts Centres