Andrew Batt-Rawden

Chronology Arts is raising funds to support the ongoing careers of emerging Australian composers.

We want to commission Australian composers to create works that will have a meaningful impact on their careers.

We want to help composers with the development of their professional networks.

We want to publish Australian composers and represent them internationally, giving emerging and young composers development opportunities until their work is ready to be taken to the world stage.

We want to record the Australian compositions that we commission and release them with our label partner.

We want to double the money currently spent on new music commissions in Australia.

Chronology Arts has been in this sector for 5 years and we are excited by the challenge to make contemporary classical music a relevant and enticing art form for the Australian arts community and audiences alike.

Network Development

Chronology Arts is one of the most connected organisations in Australian contemporary classical music.

There are many service organisations for music which are intrinsic to the new-music landscape, but we feel that Chronology Arts has an opportunity to fill the gap of individual composer business development, like an old fashioned “manager” / “publisher”, but with a contemporary business approach and a respect for the integrity of the art... mentoring individuals in the development of their networks and getting them opportunities.

Key networking goals for composers include commissioners, performers, audience. Some composers are really good at getting these three groups in their network, some aren't. Chronology Arts will give composers access to these groups – with connections being able to be taken beyond the arms-length relationship developed by internet network marketing. Chronology will help composers develop long-lasting relationships that will support a good chunk of their careers.

Commissioning

Micro-philanthropy is a new trend. The value for emerging donors and current donors is that our platform will be tax deductible. Similar to Australian Cultural Fund, but with more integration of artists and our business, commissioners not only get to help bring a new work into the world, but claim tax benefits at the same time.

Composers are encouraged to get their networks behind their composition commission, and Chronology Arts will use its database, PR and marketing devices to advertise the commissions as well. All in all, composers get commissions, commissioners get the ability to become involved in projects that may simply have not heard of otherwise – and help today's Mozarts, Stockhausens and Debussys emerge from Australian talent.

Where your finances go

Finances raised through this Pozible campaign will go directly towards the development of this business model. We are able to start this project off with only $5,000 in funds, however if we are able to raise $10,000, we will have an excellent national marketing campaign next year to raise commissioning funds for new works. Any further funds raised will go towards commissioning projects selected by our selection committee.

Milestones

We'll launch a new website with the capabilities we require to fully promote composers commissioning projects and events in February 2013, at which stage we will also launch a label partnership. By the end of 2013 we will have launched our publishing business after much required business development work. Whilst this is happening we will be presenting 3 events, curating numerous other events at Seymour Centre, and aim to commission as many works as possible next year to help develop Australian composer careers now, whilst mentoring them through the process of the development of the business and artistic aspects of their artform. 

Background

Chronology Arts was established in 2007 to support emerging composers' career development by curating and producing events of new music.

Since its inception, Chronology Arts has engaged more than 80 Australian composers to create over 130 new works, all of which have been given a performance or workshop and recorded, some of which have been broadcast and received wider distribution.

In 2010 Chronology Arts started a new direction in its activities called “Commissioners' Circle” with the intention of garnering more support for commissioning new music. Chronology Arts began presenting a series of panel discussions about commissioning, discussing philanthropy, commissions management and the culture around commissioning new music. That year, Chronology Arts won an Arts Bunker residence of the Seymour Centre to start in 2011.

The 2012-2013 period has become one of intrinsic activity change. Chronology Arts has retained its core value of supporting emerging composers' career development, however the way in which we do is strategically taking a dramatic shift of gears. Currently, in partnership with Streetline Media and the Seymour Centre, with assistance from Dominic Cudmore of Prolegis Lawyers, Chronology Arts is developing a new method of micro-funding commissions in Australia that is tax deductible for philanthropists and highly effective in a variety of ways for the composer, not only benefitting a financial commission but fortifying a wider network of supporters.

The future of Chronology Arts will see a mixture of music activities. Central to Chronology is the commissioning and development of new work, however through Chronology Arts the composers will also have access to publishing and score promotion, wider recordings distribution and sales, as well as the opportunity for live events.

Credits

Music heard in the video includes;

“Quintessence” by Andrew Batt-Rawden http://tumblr.andrewbattrawden.com

Premiered 19 September 2008 in “Quintessential”

“Dorian Quolls” by Annette Goldenhttp://www.annettegolden.com/

Premiered 2 May 2008 in “Counterparts”

“Masks” by Lachlan Skipworth http://lachlanskipworth.wordpress.com/

Premiered 12 Nov 2008 in “Emerging Century”

Performer credits are listed in each concert → http://www.chronologyarts.net/concerts/past

Video by Hospital Hill http://hospitalhill.com.au/