NIDA aims to equip future generations of industry practitioners with ‘real-world’ environmental sustainability skills and practices to create positive change in their future workplaces both in Australia and internationally.
In 2023, NIDA partnered with the Performance + Ecology Research Lab (P+ERL) at Griffith University, led by Dr Tanja Beer, to embed environmental sustainability learning across all NIDA degree courses: Bachelors, Masters and VET Diploma programs.
P+ERL and NIDA Course Leaders worked together to identify and create learning content to inform current thinking and practices in sustainable production across theatre, screen and live events. NIDA’s 2024 curriculum now includes bespoke class exercises, resources and case studies that address the specific environmental sustainability opportunities and challenges of individual NIDA disciplines including Acting, Costume, Cultural Leadership, Design, Directing, Dramatic Writing, Specialist Make-up, Musical Theatre, Props and Effects, Technical Theatre and Stage Management, and Set Construction Technologies.
The new curriculum will be rolled out for all new students enrolled in NIDA Bachelors, Masters and Diploma programs from February 2024.
“The P+ERL team at Griffith University are honoured to have worked with NIDA to develop cutting-edge resources that enable course leaders and their students to make sustainable choices across the creative industries. Our focus has not only been on mitigating impact in the development of artistic pursuits, but also facilitating innovative and inspiring eco-creative solutions to sustainability. NIDA is a global leader in embedding environmental considerations into every aspect of teaching and learning. This initiative will be seen as a key moment in Australia’s creative transition to a sustainable future. The P+ERL team are excited to have played a role in building the next generation of ecologically-informed cultural leaders.”
Dr Tanja Beer, Co-director, Performance + Ecology Research Lab (P+ERL), Creative Arts Research Institute (CARI), Griffith University.
“I’m thrilled that we’re working with the Performance + Ecology Research Lab to ensure that the NIDA curriculum reflects best environmental practice and that all NIDA students will have the skills to meaningfully respond to the climate crisis as creative practitioners. NIDA graduates quickly take on leadership roles across the full span of creative industries so I’m excited about the impact our students will have as their environmentally sustainable practices permeate their work places and the broader industry.”
