FLUXUS Mentorship Programme Expansion
FLUXUS Opera Lab has awarded three $5,000 development grants to support new Australian opera projects in its inaugural round, announced on 9 April 2026. The selected projects demonstrate a wide range of creative approaches, from children’s operas to innovative song cycles and contemporary adaptations of classical works.
Ali McGregor, Creative Director of FLUXUS, stated: “The response to our first year has been extraordinary. It’s clear that a large number of artists across Australia want to explore opera in new ways.”
The grants have been awarded to Alice Chance for ‘Great Big Tree’, Teddy Dunn and Alex Turley for ‘Suits’, and Daniel Szesiong Todd for ‘Chinese Medea’. Alice Chance, an award-winning composer, will develop a work for younger audiences. Meanwhile, Dunn and Turley’s ‘Suits’ will explore themes of identity through a staged song cycle that blends opera with contemporary music theatre. Todd’s ‘Chinese Medea’ offers a bold reimagining of a classic tale, incorporating modern perspectives and cultural narratives.
The FLUXUS Opera Lab, supported by the Australian Government, aims to foster experimentation and collaboration in contemporary opera development. Due to overwhelming interest, FLUXUS increased the number of grants from two to three in its inaugural year. The lab received numerous submissions, highlighting a strong national interest in creating new operatic work and signalling a vibrant future for the art form in Australia.
Expansion of Mentorship Opportunities
FLUXUS will also support nine additional artists through an expanded mentorship program, providing creative development assistance and industry connections. The mentorship recipients for 2026 include Peggy Polias, Caitlin Vincent, Oliver John Cameron, Phoebe Daisy, Amarantha Robinson, Katia Geha, Claudia Osborne & Imogen Gardam, Sienna Brown, and Nicholas Sheppard & Isabella Svojtka. This initiative aims to offer targeted guidance and opportunities for connection within the sector.
FLUXUS has shown a strong commitment to nurturing emerging talent. This year, the Opera Lab’s expansion reflects the organisation’s dedication to fostering innovation and collaboration. Further details on the selected projects and mentorship recipients will be shared by FLUXUS in the coming months. Meanwhile, these developments underscore FLUXUS’s ongoing support for a dynamic environment in opera innovation within Australia.
The increase in grants from two to three demonstrates FLUXUS’s response to the high quality of applications. Each project will receive $5,000 to support early-stage development, alongside tailored mentorship and industry connections. This approach ensures a comprehensive support system for the artists involved.
Last updated: 9 April 2026, 3:20 pm
