More About Vulcana

Since 1995 Vulcana has been enriching communities through our highly successful circus workshop and performance projects that engage a broad range of community participants and work in partnership with arts and community organisations. Our very first community project in 1995 was set up in recognition of the dearth of female circus performers in Australia, as well as the need to create a safe, non-competitive space where women could feel free to explore their physical potential.

This project led to a performance season; ‘A Girls Own Adventure’. The overwhelmingly enthusiastic response to this project confirmed the value for women in building physical confidence and creativity through circus. The sell out shows also made clear the interest of the community in celebrating a diversity of women and their successes, which also encapsulated the thrill of circus. Since then Vulcana has gone from strength to strength, developing its model of practice, processes and organisational structures, and expanding its reach to include young people and whole communities.

HISTORY

• In 2001 Vulcana created the position of Outreach Coordinator to facilitate projects in partnership with a diverse range of community organisations for outcomes grounded in community needs and aspirations. Since that time Vulcana’s model of engagement has evolved and strengthened and seen successful community projects delivered many times per year.
•  In 2002 Vulcana appointed a Workshop Coordinator which led to a substantial increase of our independent income as well as a focus on development of our trainers, markets and products.
• In 2003 the appointment of new Artistic Director saw the company evolve on its current course where quality performance outcomes and quality community outcomes are integrally connected. This saw a marked increase in audiences and a dynamic development of the model of community projects Vulcana implements. This period also yielded a new approach to community performance outcomes. While we started bringing our emerging professional performers into public spaces, we started bringing our community outreach performances into major theatres; challenging the notion that there is a divide between community outcomes and high artistic product.
• In 2005 Vulcana, in partnership with Inala Wangarra, Kooemba Jdarra, and Contact Inc, produced Bungo the Money God. The show was based on a dramatisation of a story by Uncle Herb Wharton, and was performed at the Powerhouse Theatre by members of the Inala community, from children to elders, including established performance troupes from the community. The success of this production proved that community arts processes can actually be enhanced by the challenges of producing a large-scale high quality performance. It brought factions of the community together with a common goal and the opportunity to tell their stories on stage, supported by experienced artsworkers and theatre workers, and engendered great pride.
• Since then Vulcana has created an explosion of high quality works in collaboration with communities. Other examples of this work over time include; Home Fictions (2004) public performance season in partnership with the Older Women’s Network; Circus in a Tea Cup (2006) in partnership with Brisbane Domestic Violence Service and Qld Injecting Health Network; Strange Creatures (2006) with the Deaf community in Brisbane and the Vulcana workshop community; Uncharted (2007) with African migrants in partnership with MultiLink Settlement Services, SpeakOut and BEMAC; Sling Backs, High Heels and Sensible Shoes (2008) in partnership with Brisbane Domestic Violence Advocacy Service and Women’s Health Qld Wide.
• An operational review in 2007 began the process of solidifying and strengthening Vulcana as a sustainable, long-term member of the cultural landscape in Brisbane and Queensland. New focus was brought to business and strategic development, improved organisational systems, policy development and branding.

2011:
Comprehensive consultation with stakeholders in early 2010 led to a re-imagining of Vulcana and its place in the cultural landscape. Board and staff have been infused with new energy for promoting Vulcana’s values and achieving its goals.