Darwin Entertainment Centre 2019-20 Annual Report

57,758 TICKETS SOLD

Average of 9% increase across all performances

2019–20 AT A GLANCE

Our Audience

Rounding to the nearest whole number has been applied.

4

117

STUDIO THEATRE

8,301 tickets sold THE PLAYHOUSE

38,423 tickets sold

TOP 3 PROGRAMMED GENRES

24 % Ballet/Dance

18% Contemporary Music

62% Events well-attended with an average of 62% of tickets sold across all performances

12 Ballet/Dance, Cabaret, Classical Music, Comedy, Conference/Exhibition, Contemporary Music, Education, Family, Film, First Nations, Opera, Theatre 18 –24 25–34 35–44 45–54 55–64 65–74 75+

10% ↑ increase in local performances programmed

16% ↑ increase in venue utilisation

Note that these figures are representative of the period July - March due to the venue’s closure from 19 March 2020 as a result of the global pandemic

Based on data derived from post-show patron surveys

A large number of attendances not accounted for in post-show survey data comes from education and children’s programming. In 2019-20 we saw more than 8,300 attendances at these events.

TIMES

91% attend 1–2 times a year

Based on data derived from our patron database

TIMES

9% attend events 3 or more times a year

5

Message from the Chairman

On behalf of the Board of Directors, I am pleased to present Darwin Entertainment Centre’s 2019-20 Annual Report.

The financial year started off very strongly. After several years of forging through an economic downturn felt right across Darwin, the tide was starting to turn and ticket sales and revenue were progressively increasing. The Board and Management felt a renewed sense of optimism as we looked towards what was shaping up as being one of our best years on record, both in terms of artistic offerings, and financial performance.

As we all know now, a global pandemic was just around the corner which impacted, and continues to impact, the arts sector and the general community, making it difficult to do what we do best – deliver unique and stunning performances for the people of the Northern Territory.

There is truth in the old saying ‘absence makes the heart grow fonder’ and together with the easing of restrictions in the Territory, it’s been extremely pleasing to witness people flooding back to the Centre and being part of our new and diverse programming. Our community missed us as much as we missed them.

On behalf of the Board, I thank the Northern Territory Government and City of Darwin for their ongoing partnership and financial commitment during this most challenging year.

Message from the Acting General Manager

To say 2019-20 was an interesting year would be an understatement.

Our staff and leadership team, led by Acting General Manager Coryn Huddy, have been exceptional and have demonstrated ongoing commitment and resilience. Without them, we would not have been able to get through this year and bounce back as quickly and successfully as we have. Their work is appreciated by all of us.

also thank my colleagues on the Board of Directors for their unwavering support and guidance.

Most importantly, I acknowledge all of the local businesses and performers we work with who have struggled along with us this year. We know it has been a tough few years for you all. We can see better days ahead and we look forward to continuing to support you as you get back on your feet.

Here’s to our new – and even better – normal.

DAVID DE SILVA AM Chairman

This year, we saw the beginnings of incredible growth for our organisation. Our strategic priorities were refined with a renewed focus on our core business and all signs indicated that 2019-20 would be our best year yet.

And then, with little warning, we were at the mercy of an enforced closure and an uncertain future thanks to the COVID-19 global pandemic. With 48 planned events cancelled between March and June, we had to think differently.

With the support of a very committed team of staff and the Board, we got straight to work on the behind-thescenes activities that make the visitor and artist experience great. We had to be willing, able and ready to reopen and engage the community at a moment’s notice. We reviewed and implemented a range of new policies and procedures to improve the professionalism and sustainability of the Centre and found innovative ways to use spaces outside of the main performance areas to showcase local talent under new restrictions and guidelines.

We also utilised stimulus grants from all levels of government to make physical improvements to the venue and to retain our skilled and experienced staff to ensure we could deliver high-quality events right off the bat.

To help us better communicate our role in the community and reflect our expansion into new services, we took the opportunity to commence a brand strategy review. Our new branding will help us better reflect the multifaceted role we play in our community and connect with our guests. I look forward to sharing it with you all soon.

I am immeasurably proud of the hard work of our small but dynamic team during very challenging and uncertain times. They are resilient, dedicated and innovative and I thank them for their ongoing support.

It remains to be seen what long-term effects the pandemic will have on the performing arts sector but we are confident in the work we are doing to support the sector locally. It has been so pleasing to collaborate with so many dedicated, passionate local performers and organisations.

We’re open for business and will continue to provide voice to meaningful things. We will evolve to meet the ever-changing needs of our sector and our community. I thank the Board and its Chair, Mr David De Silva, for their support and ongoing guidance.

CORYN HUDDY Acting General Manager

Coryn Huddy, 2020 Program Launch

THE YEAR IN REVIEW

This year, Darwin Entertainment Centre (DEC) cemented itself as the home of high-calibre international acts in the Northern Territory and a supportive and welcoming place for local talent to be developed and showcased.

Some highlights of 2019-20 and our most well-attended programming, included Opera Australia’s performance of Madama Butterfly, dance performances by Bangarra Dance Theatre and SLIDE Youth Dance Theatre, comedy performances by Wil Anderson and Dylan Moran, musical performances from Queen Forever and 10cc, and children’s programming from The Wiggles and Operation Ouch!. Our Backstage Pass sessions were sell-outs and have affirmed our belief that Darwin is ready for new and exciting ways to experience art and performance.

Our strategic plan foreshadowed a new focus on strengthening the local arts sector and diversifying our programming to attract new audiences to our events. We wanted to show the Top End community that we are more than just bricks and mortar or a venue for hire. We are a truly passionate player in developing and promoting talent and delivering new and exciting experiences.

82% of the actions within the DEC Strategic Plan 20192023 have commenced or been completed

When the global pandemic turned our plans on their head, 48 contracted performances were cancelled and the Centre, along with the broader arts and entertainment sector, was left with an uncertain future.

The team moved quickly to progress the behind-the-scenes strategic work to ensure that when restrictions were lifted, the Centre was in a strong position, ready to reopen and connect a community that had been through so much.

While much of the strategic work is not seen by our guests, it is essential work that means their experience is safer, more enjoyable and encourages them to return.

This year, we have reimagined existing spaces at the Centre and offered new ways for the community to access art and culture. We have also offered more diversity in our programming and encouraged more local artists to share their talents in spaces not often accessible to them. In the 107 ticketed performances delivered this year, we have seen an average increase of 9% in ticket sales across all performances.

We continue to expand beyond our Mitchell Street home to coordinate events at Gardens Amphitheatre on behalf of the City of Darwin. We were successful in securing a service contract to deliver an iconic Territory event in 2020, which unfortunately did not eventuate due to the pandemic.

We have provided exclusive and high-quality ticketing services to a range of external events including AFL games hosted in Darwin and Alice Springs, through our specialist ticketing arm NTix.

We expect 2020-21 to be even better as we hopefully continue to bounce back from the effects of the pandemic and continue to deliver exceptional experiences for the people of the Northern Territory.

Pre-eminent dance theatre company Bangarra celebrated a milestone year with 30 Years of Sixty Five Thousand to a sold-out crowd in The Playhouse. The performance, presented as part of Darwin Festival, took a look back at the 30-year history of the Bangarra Dance Theatre while also honouring the resilience of First Nations People. It was a magical performance showcasing some of the best and brightest in Australian performing arts.

Above: Amanda Palmer, There Will Be No Intermission, image Kahn and Selesnick

Right: Bangarra Dance Theatre, 30 Years of Sixty Five Thousand, image Daniel Boud

STRATEGIC PILLARS & OUTCOMES

PILLAR 1

Vision / Purpose / Values

VISION

Lead artistic endeavours unique to the region and play a central role in enriching the social and cultural life of Darwin, the Northern Territory and beyond.

PURPOSE

To maintain and develop the Centre as a premier vibrant performing arts venue that provides diverse and innovative live entertainment and events.

VALUES

Safety – is engrained in everything we do.

Supportive – we encourage and embrace our people, clients, artists, and the community.

Unified – we a as one to seek the best outcomes for our business.

Genuine – we will be accountable, committed, honest, respectful, and compassionate.

Innovative – we are solutions-focused, adaptable, bold, and seek opportunities.

Collaborators – we provide value, are reliable and operate transparently and inclusively.

THE WET SESSIONS LIVE @ THE STUDIO

As part of our commitment to growing Territory artists, this year we provided local musicians the opportunity to perform as the pre-entertainment to high-profile main events. Performances in the Studio Theatre supported major national and international acts like Queen Forever, The Beatle’s Abbey Road Live, Amanda Palmer, 10cc, and Courtney Act. A special highlight was local performer Emma Rowe getting the opportunity to sing and play with internationally renowned Amanda Palmer during her Live @ The Studio performance. We look forward to providing more opportunities just like this in the future.

Program exceptional artistic work and support outstanding Northern Territory artists

We strive to deliver diverse and exciting performances and exhibitions, and position DEC as the entertainment provider of choice through these strategic objectives:

• Increase the diversity and extent of arts programming for and from the Darwin community

• Facilitate pathways for established and emerging local artists and performers

• Build relationships with national arts organisations and bodies to reinstate Darwin as a national touring destination

• Strengthen and develop strategic and artistic partnerships and networks

• Produce and present leading Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and other cultural works

• Create opportunities to position DEC venues for live performances by local performing artists

• Explore inbound international collaborations and programming opportunities

• Prioritise and facilitate a program of events at the Gardens Amphitheatre

OUTCOMES

In 2019-20, we delivered 117 events covering 12 genres. This included our new Live @ The Studio ‘Stage Door’ performances where we engaged local performers to support national and international touring artists. Use of the Rehearsal Room as a performance space and the hosting of five local art exhibitions across the Centre saw a 16% increase in the utilisation of the Centre over the year and a 10% increase in the number of local performances from the previous year.

To enable this expansion in performance types, we have worked hard to establish and maintain partnerships with local performing arts representatives and organisations, including artist-in-residence agreements with SLIDE Youth Dance Theatre and NT Dance Company. Collaboration with Ben Graetz, a local First Nations man, to develop Garrmalang Festival scheduled for May 2020 was unfortunately cut short due to the pandemic.

With our goal to diversify our offerings firmly in sight, we collaborated with Hamark Holdings and were awarded the contract to deliver the then-cancelled 2020 Territory Day Event at Mindil Beach.

Jigsaw Jazz Collective at Live @ The Studio image Steve Kelk

Audiences were thrilled to take in the stunning voice and deep thoughtful lyrics of one of Australia’s most successful current artists, Amy Shark. The 2019 Triple J Hottest 100 winner graced Darwin with her presence as part of her tour across regional Australia, showcasing her critically acclaimed debut album Love Monster and favourites from her EP Night Thinker. This was the Centre’s first opportunity to work with new contemporary music promoter, TEG Dainty, and show them just how much we love our live music.

We aim to improve DEC's capacity across all facets of the business through these strategic objectives:

• Develop and retain a professional, diverse, skilled and experienced workforce

• Ensure strong governance via a skillsbased board

• Maintain a safe work environment for our patrons and staff

• Collaborate with City of Darwin and Northern Territory Government to improve current and future infrastructure through asset management and capital infrastructure plans

• Position DEC as Darwin’s premier ticketing agent

• Proactively manage production capability and technology

• Deliver excellent visitor/customer service

OUTCOMES

This year, we saw a new appointment to the Board with the addition of Terri Layman who brings exceptional skills and networks to the business. Over the past 12 months, the Board has held eight meetings and been instrumental in helping guide us through the challenges of the pandemic.

Despite those challenges, we have been able to maintain our staffing profile across the organisation with the support of the Australian Government’s JobKeeper scheme. This scheme allowed us to maintain the employment of 15 skilled and technical staff and ensured we could reopen quickly and successfully when restrictions were eased.

With the goal of improving the physical space and utilisation of the Centre, this year we undertook a series of remedial works to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our staff, our performers and our visitors. This included upgrades

to backstage changing rooms, the refurbishment of the Member’s Bar, repainting, and a plethora of other maintenance works.

We have appointed Tickets.com as our ticketing supplier of choice and continued building our capacity to ticket external events such as the ticketing of high-profile AFL games in Alice Springs and Darwin. Between DEC and NTix, we have distributed more than 60,000 tickets to events this year.

Most notably, visitor spend per head has increased consistently through 2019-20 with our survey respondents all indicating high levels of satisfaction with our programming, our venues and our service. Before the pandemic, we were ahead of our budgeted targets putting us in a strong financial position.

We strive to give the community experiences they can’t get anywhere else and in turn, grow the reputation and reach of the performance/arts sector through these strategic objectives:

• Develop a sustained artistic program which attracts a wide variety of artistic tastes across a broad spectrum of art forms and genres that are relevant and inspirational

• Build new audiences through innovative and targeted sales and marketing initiatives and an active membership program

• Program work for school audiences and foster the development of educational initiatives

• Develop a program to deliver popular large-scale events at Gardens Amphitheatre, with incentives for attendees to convert into regular DEC patrons

• Utilise business analytics to identify audience demographics and develop targeted marketing strategies

• Promote and position DEC as a valuable and accessible community asset

OUTCOMES

With our focus squarely on tapping into new audience segments, we developed an exciting and diverse program for 2019-20 with more than 165 performances contracted. Although many were cancelled due to the pandemic, we still managed to host 107 ticketed performances across 12 genres.

These 107 performances indicated early success in our goal to find new audiences and to use space in more innovative ways. This included new performance concepts including Live @ the Studio and the Laneway Series, and the use of new spaces including the Courtyard and Loading Dock. Tickets sold for all performances increased by an average of 9% with a 16% growth in space utilisation at the Centre.

In 2019-20, our education program delivered 25 performances to

Darwin children, including 15 educational workshops - three specifically for children with additional needs. Our school holiday program Backstage Pass in January 2020 was a sell-out.

To support ongoing development and performance opportunities within the Centre, we provided a total of $149,913 in subsidies for community performances and groups - $53,387 in in-kind performance support (production, ticketing, marketing etc) and $65,000 of in-kind support to our resident dance companies, SLIDE Youth Dance Theatre and NT Dance Company.

A brand review commenced in early 2020 resulting in a brand strategy that strengthens our activities and communications as an organisation that connects, curates and creates. We give voice to meaningful things and our brand strategy will guide us an organisation to create enduring value in the minds and hearts of our community.

OPERA AUSTRALIA’S PERFORMANCE OF MADAMA BUTTERFLY

Classical music lovers rejoiced in Opera Australia's sumptuous production of Puccini's Madama Butterfly, part of Darwin Festival at DEC. Chronicling a love story that reaches across cultures, this stunning performance that featured a chorus of local students, delighted the entire crowd.

Drive a professional, influential and resilient Centre

PILLAR 3

Energise, develop and inspire the cultural and artistic life of Darwin by deepening our community engagement and growing our audiences

Amy Shark

Hundreds of kids had the time of their little lives as The Wiggles and Operation Ouch! put on entertainment packed shows for our younger audiences. Our school holiday programming Backstage Pass was as popular as ever, selling out in January 2020, offering educational and entertaining sessions for kids. We love hosting engaging and exciting opportunities for children to be creative and we know their parents love how well they sleep afterwards!

PILLAR 4

Manage a financially sustainable organisation

To maintain our presence and influence in the community and the sector, we aim to run a financially sustainable organisation for the long-term through these strategic objectives:

• Increase and diversify income through existing revenue streams

• Adopt a development strategy to secure income from untapped philanthropic sources, supported at board level

• Advocate for and prioritise long-term funding arrangements

• Maintain rigorous financial management systems, procedures and oversight

• Develop a 2019-23 sponsorship strategy

• Review the financial viability of performances against the value provided to the community to make informed strategic decisions

• Actively assess risk to ensure a proactive approach to threats and opportunities

OUTCOMES

This year, DEC worked hard to increase and diversify our revenue streams. Early results indicate that this has been a successful strategy as new partnerships are built and our reach outside of the Centre grows. We have continued our productive partnership with Darwin Festival and in 2021 will deliver the Territory Day event at Mindil Beach in conjunction with Hamark Holdings.

We worked with all three of the mainstream contemporary music promoters in Australia and the Asia Pacific. Live Nation, Frontier Touring and TEG Dainty all brought shows to DEC and we are hopeful that those strengthened relationships will continue to see Darwin as a city of choice for big musical acts.

Our focus on partnerships has also included working closely with other local venues to discuss cost and resource sharing for future events

and productions, as well as formalising an accommodation supply agreement with H Hotel.

Most notably, we have finalised five-year funding agreements with Northern Territory Government and City of Darwin and we have maintained our corporate sponsorships.

Prior to the global pandemic, these actions saw us ahead of our revenue targets.

With the quick onset of the pandemic, and all in-house performances cancelled, the Centre utilised the JobKeeper scheme to keep our staff employed and accessed $329,910 in economic stimulus grants to undertake essential infrastructure works along with some cosmetic improvements.

While this financial support assisted the Centre to get through the pandemic crisis, the impact of cancelling almost half of our programmed shows for the year has been significant.

Use the challenges of the global pandemic as an opportunity to look inward and re-open strong and vibrant through these strategic objectives:

• Retain our people and prepare our workforce for reopening

• Enhance and improve our services and offerings

• Remain connected and provide value across the community

• Operate and deliver budgeted outcomes

• Be ready to open

OUTCOMES

The impact of the pandemic on the performing arts sector has been enormous. Within days of restrictions being announced, performances of all kinds were cancelled with no sight of a reprieve for many artists, performers and support staff.

While this impact was felt heavily by us at the Centre, we took the opportunity to do important behind-the-scenes work and optimistically look towards reopening bigger and better.

We established a COVID-19 Response Plan and made our return to normal operations a new pillar in our strategic plan.

We retained our skilled staff through the Australian Government JobKeeper scheme meaning we were able to reopen quickly and start staging performances as soon as restrictions in the Northern Territory were eased. We accessed more than $300,000 worth of economic stimulus grants to make improvements to the Centre’s infrastructure and look, with the goal of making better use of existing space and making the Centre more inviting.

We also supported the sector through our work with other local businesses and sat in on a national group of arts bodies to help prepare a roadmap to reopening safely, with the peace of mind of our staff, performers and visitors at the forefront of our considerations.

Despite the heavy economic toll the pandemic has taken, we have been very lucky here in the Northern Territory to be largely restriction-free and able to rely on our exceptional local talent to get people back into the Centre.

PILLAR 5

Turn COVID -19 into a positive, be prepared and re-emerge faster, more connected, and smarter

Backstage Pass, image Felicity Elliott

Andrea Lam

DEC ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE COMPANIES

SUPPORTING OUR ARTS COMMUNITY

This year, DEC cemented itself as the home of high-calibre international acts in the Northern Territory and a supportive and welcoming place for local talent to be developed and showcased.

Each year, DEC provides a significant amount of in-kind support to local organisations and artists. This support includes the free or discounted use of rehearsal and performance space, subsidised marketing and promotional activities run through the Centre, and the support of technical, event and administrative staff during rehearsal and performance periods.

The in-kind support we provide is essential to the sector and oftentimes the survival of small performing arts groups running on tiny budgets.

In 2019-20, more than $149,913 was provided to the following 19 community groups to help them deliver performances to the Darwin community:

DARWIN CHORALE INC

SLIDE YOUTH DANCE THEATRE

AUSTRALIA CHINA FRIENDSHIP

SOCIETY NT BRANCH

NT MUSIC SCHOOL

NORTHERN TERRITORY

CALISTHENICS ASSOCIATION

ST MARY'S CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL

DARWIN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

LEISA'S SCHOOL OF DANCE

ROSEBERRY PRIMARY SCHOOL

DARWIN SCHOOL OF BALLET

TOP END CALISTHENICS CLUB

SAM'S DANCE STUDIO

DRIVER PRIMARY SCHOOL

DARWIN HIGH SCHOOL

HAILEYBURY RENDALL SCHOOL

O'LOUGHLIN CATHOLIC COLLEGE

DARWIN PERFORMANCE ACADEMY

NT DANCE COMPANY

DARWIN FESTIVAL

SLIDE YOUTH DANCE THEATRE

Joanna Noonan, Artistic Director

As an Artist-in-Residence company since 2018, we’re grateful for the support from the team at DEC who share our vision and passion for showcasing the diversity of talented youth in the Territory. Like the saying goes ‘it takes a village’ to nurture, lead, fuel, educate and motivate our youth.

This valued, steadfast investment in our work and process of ‘By Youth, For Youth’ validates and sustains my vision and purpose, making SLIDE Youth Dance Theatre viable, practicable and engaging. This partnership also supports a mentorship program which is vital for role modelling the very real potential for a young performing artist or technician in the Territory to become a professional in this industry.

NT DANCE COMPANY

These groups also include our two resident dance companies, SLIDE Youth Dance Theatre and NT Dance Company who use the Centre as a home base for rehearsal and performance.

We are proud to support the local performing arts sector, particularly during what has been a very challenging year for many. To show our ongoing commitment, we have allocated additional funds for support in 2020-21.

We know that continuing to invest in the sector in new and innovative ways will give us, and the community, significant benefits for years to come.

Gary Lang, Artistic Director

Since 2012, NT Dance Company (NTDC) has been a proud Artist-in-Residence company at DEC. On behalf of NTDC, we wish to thank the Centre for their tremendous support and belief in our local, Indigenousowned company and their invaluable contribution to our sustainability. Beyond providing rehearsal space and in-kind production resources we have collaborated, engaged, and delivered several mutually beneficial strategic outcomes across our businesses, including providing access, pathways and engagement through the arts sectors including remote Territory communities like Yirrkala in East Arnhem; collaborating, creating, and facilitating performances such as the ground-breaking Milnjiya – River of the Stars featuring West Australian Ballet, Yorta Yorta singer Deborah Cheetham AO and Miku traditional artists, performed in Perth in 2018 and premiering in the Territory at DEC in 2019; and advocating for NTDC to evolve from a project-based company of 15 years, into one which was recognised and funded as an NT Leading Arts Organisation in 2020.

$149,913 in in-kind subsidies for 19 community groups

Gary Lang

Joanna Noonan

Tura New Music, Kimberley Echoes, image Francis Andrijich

Top: Bell Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing image Clare Hawley

SLIDE YOUTH DANCE THEATRE

Our Artist-in-Residence company SLIDE Youth Dance Theatre yet again delivered a wonderful performance for youth with Rhubarb - an interactive, dance theatre offering that allowed the audience to engage and immerse themselves in the wonderful world discovered by lead character, Rhubarb. SLIDE Youth Dance Theatre consistently deliver exciting performances with important messages for young people.

2019–20 EVENTS / ACTIVITIES

LEISA'S SCHOOL OF DANCING The Magic Of Dancing

MULTICULTURAL FESTIVAL 2019

NT CALISTHENICS

THE PLAYHOUSE

10CC The Things We Do for Love Tour

40TH ANNIVERSARY BEAT FESTIVAL FORTE!

A CELTIC CHRISTMAS BY A TASTE OF IRELAND

ALEX WILLIAMSON Sin On My Face

AMANDA PALMER There Will Be No Intermission

AMY SHARK

BANGARRA DANCE THEATRE 30 Years of Sixty Five Thousand

BELL SHAKESPEARE Much Ado About Nothing

BJORN AGAIN 30th Anniversary Tour

COURTNEY ACT Fluid

DARWIN HIGH SCHOOL PRESENTATION

DARWIN MIDDLE SCHOOL PRESENTATION

DARWIN PERFORMANCE ACADEMY All That Jazz

DARWIN SCHOOL OF BALLET Papillions

DARWIN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Around the World in Eighty Minutes

DRIVER PRIMARY SCHOOL Driver's Greatest Show

DYLAN MORAN Dr Cosmos

EXPRESSIONS DANCE COMPANY The Dinner Party

HAILEYBURY RENDALL SCHOOL PRESENTATION

JAMES REYNE A Crawl to Now

KASEY CHAMBERS The Captain 20th Anniversary Tour

LARRAKEYAH PRIMARY SCHOOL Home Sweet Home

LEGS ON THE WALL Man With The Iron Neck

LEISA'S SCHOOL OF DANCING Sleeping Beauty

LEGENDS

International comedy hard-hitters Dylan Moran and Ross Noble had packed houses crying with laughter as they brought their unique brand of funny to the Centre. Known worldwide for their hilarious takes on current affairs, politics and life in general, Dylan and his show Dr Cosmos, and Ross with his show Humournoid, wowed audiences, winning over some new fans.

O’LOUGHLIN CATHOLIC COLLEGE PRESENTATION

OPERA AUSTRALIA Madama Butterfly

OPERATION OUCH!

PALMERSTON COLLEGE PRESENTATION

POSTMODERN JUKEBOX Welcome to the Twenties 2.0

QUEEN FOREVER We Are the Champions Tour

RAW COMEDY 2020

ROSEBERY PRIMARY SCHOOL Guess Who

ROSS NOBLE Humournoid

SAM'S DANCE STUDIO Celebrate

SLIDE YOUTH DANCE THEATRE Rhubarb

SOOSHI MANGO Fifty Shades of Ethnic

SOWETO GOSPEL CHOIR

ST JOHN’S CATHOLIC COLLEGE PRESENTATION

ST MARY'S GREATEST SHOW

SUPERWOG

SYDNEY COMEDY FESTIVAL SHOWCASE

SYDNEY DANCE COMPANY 50th Anniversary Triple Bill (Bonachela/Nankivell/Lane)

TERRITORY YOUNG AUTHOR AWARDS

THE BEATLES’ ABBEY ROAD LIVE

THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH AWARDS PRESENTATION

THE ESSINGTON SCHOOL PRESENTATION

THE WIGGLES Party Time! Big Show!

TOP END CALISTHENICS ANNUAL CONCERT

VICTORIA STATE BALLET Swan Lake

WIL ANDERSON Wilegal

STUDIO THEATRE

ALEXANDRE DA COSTA & KRISTIAN CHONG

ALL MY SONS (BROADCAST)

ANDREA LAM

ARAFURA MUSIC COLLECTIVE Love & Dreaming

ARENA THEATRE COMPANY Air Race

DARWIN CHORALE No. 1 Pop Hits

FRENCHY Turn It Up

GIAN MARCO CIAMPA & FRANCIS DIATSCHENKO

GRIGORYAN BROTHERS Past, Present & Future IN CONVERSATION WITH MICHAEL SMITH

INDIAN INK THEATRE COMPANY Guru of Chai

JOSEPH TAWADROS & JAMES TAWADROS LIVE IN CONCERT

KIMBERLEY ECHOES BY TURA NEW MUSIC

LIVE @ THE STUDIO Adam Scriven

LIVE @ THE STUDIO DJ Tristan

LIVE @ THE STUDIO Emma Rowe

LIVE @ THE STUDIO Jigsaw Jazz Collective

LIVE @ THE STUDIO Kathryn Ezzy

MAMAMIA OUT LOUD LIVE

NATIONAL CHILD PROTECTION WEEK FORUM

NT MUSIC SCHOOL CONCERT BANDS SHOWCASE

NT MUSIC SCHOOL STRING, MALLETS & SONG

OCTOBER BUSINESS MONTH The Great Debate

PHARE CIRCUS Eclipse

SLIDE YOUTH DANCE THEATRE Someone Else's Story

THE AUSTRALIAN BURLESQUE FESTIVAL Tropical Tease

ZEPHYR QUARTET

THE GALLERY, REHEARSAL ROOM AND OTHER DEC SPACES

ART EDUCATORS OF THE NT EXHIBITION

BACKSTAGE PASS

CITY OF DARWIN VOTING STATION

DEC 2020 PROGRAM LAUNCH

DEC ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

EDUCATION PROGRAM INFO NIGHT

FESTIVAL OF TEACHERS EXHIBITION

JIMMY BAMBLE EXHIBITION Me Gusta Doritos

KERSTENS & OLAF EXHIBITION

ORDER OF AUSTRALIA 2020 LAUNCH

POLLY JOHNSTONE EXHIBITION Strong

NTIX

2019/2020 NTFL MEN'S PREMIER LEAGUE GRAND FINAL

2019/2020 NTFL WOMEN'S PREMIER LEAGUE GRAND FINAL

2020 AFL ROUND 18 Melbourne vs West Coast

DARWIN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA 30th Anniversary Gala

DARWIN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Four Seasons for Kids

DARWIN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Heroic Beethoven

DARWIN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA O Fortuna!

GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN COLLEGE Show Time at Sea

INTERNATIONAL LEGENDS OF LEAGUE

NATIONAL INDIGENOUS MUSIC AWARDS

THE BIG 90'S PARTY

TOP END NAIDOC BALL & AWARDS

SLIDE Youth Dance Theatre, image Felicity Elliott Ross Noble

OUR FINANCIALS

A major strategic focus for DEC has been maintaining the financial sustainability of our organisation.

As part of this, we worked to diversify our performances, our audiences and our revenue which showed early signs of success in the first nine months of the financial year. Until the global pandemic reached the Northern Territory, we were on target to deliver a balanced budget thanks to growth in ticket sales and the increased use of space throughout the Centre.

We were fortunate to receive JobKeeper funding to maintain our staffing levels during lockdown and the recovery period, as well as $329,910 in economic stimulus grants to assist with essential maintenance.

We finished the financial year with a net operating profit of $64,448 before depreciation which is a better than expected result given the cancellation or rescheduling of almost 50 performances this year and not being able to deliver publicly attended performances for 14 weeks.

The following audited financial reports provide detailed insight into our financial position.

GRANTS $329,910 in stimulus grants secured