BMC Pathways to Performance

The Mackay Entertainment and Convention Centre (MECC)  entrepreneurs an annual entertainment season designed to entertain, stimulate and educate. Comprising of a range of genres such as drama, dance, children’s theatre, physical theatre and the like, performances are chosen not only for their appeal, but also for their ability to provide capital city experiences in a regional city such as Mackay.

Leading Australian companies such as Bell Shakespeare, Queensland Ballet, Shake & Stir Theatre Co are bought to Mackay by the MECC to ensure residents of the Mackay region and surrounds access quality programs at  affordable prices in the same manner as their capital city counterparts.

Each year the MECC writes to educators throughout the region advising of performances coming to the Centre which have significant educational merit or which enhance aspects of the school curriculum through workshops. Schools may reserve their requirements for performances & workshops in advance & then apply for transport,  ticket and or Workshop costs to be covered through the BMC Pathways to Performance Fund.

In 2013, the performances and accompanying workshop activities targeted for funding through BMC Pathways to Performance will be:

Secondary >

Animal Farm: Saturday 27 April 2013
Physical Theatre Drama workshops: Drama students, English & Literature students, Modern & Ancient History students, SOSE students. Educational resource pack avaialble.

Giselle, QLD Ballet: Wednesday 29 May 2013
Dance workshops: Dance students, Physical Education students, Drama students.

Comedy Of Errors, Bell Shakespeare: Saturday 27 July 2013
Workshops and auditions for the prestigious 2013 Regional Performance Scholarship: Drama students, English literature, 16th Century History.
Educational resource pack available.

African Caravan: Tuesday 10 September 2013
Vocal rhythms and mouth percussion workshop: Music students

Primary >

Possum Magic: Friday 6 September 2013
Primary links to Drama and English. Educational resource pack available.

Who is Eligible?
Primary & Secondary Schools within the Mackay, Isaac and Whitsunday Regional Council areas:

> Primary or Secondary Schools with reservations to a MECC performance
> One application may be submitted for multiple schools sharing transport (this collaboration is encouraged)
> Ability to show how attending a performance links to the curriculum
> Recipients may apply more than once in a year. However, once successful, all subsequent applications must be for transport only.

How to apply
1. Make a booking. Reserve your tickets for your preferred performance/s by completing a School Booking Form or phone MECC Box Office 4961 9777

2. Obtain a BMC Pathways to Performance Application Form

3. Obtain two quotes for transport

4. Lodge application forms, transport & other supporting documentation with The Friends of the Mackay Entertainment & Convention Centre Inc via email: meccsalesandmarketing@mackay.qld.gov.au

How applications are assessed
The Friends of the Mackay Entertainment & Convention Centre Inc. is an independent incorporated association charged with raising funds for the Centre and providing voluntary services such as ushering and ticket taking. The Friends of the Mackay Entertainment & Convention Centre Inc. will assess applications on the first Thursday of the month prior to the
specific show. Eg. If the show is in May applications will close on the Monday in the first week of April and be assessed on the Thursday in the first week of April.

Closing dates for the 2013 applications relevant to shows are as follows

Animal Farm: Closing date > Thursday 21st March 2013

Giselle, QLD Ballet: Closing date > Thursday 18 April 2013

Comedy Of Errors, Bell Shakespeare: Closing date > Thursday 16 May 2013

African Caravan: Closing date > Thursdsay 18 July 2013

Possum Magic: Closing date > Thursday 18 July 2013

What next?
Successful applications will be notified within 48 hours after assessment.  The applicant will be advised that the costs of the tickets and or Workshops and associated transport will be met through BMC Pathways to Performance Grant and invoices relating to transport should be sent to The Friends of the Mackay Entertainment & Convention Cetnre Inc. (please ensure invoices are made out to The Friends of the Mackay Entertainment & Convention Centre Inc).

The MECC will directly liaise with The Friends of the Mackay Entertainment & Convention Cetnre Inc. to pay theatre ticket costs.A representative from the MECC will contact successful applicants prior to the performance and or workshop activities to confirm participation and advise timeframes for attendance.

Successful applicants will be expected to submit a formal evaluation form post event.