About Lowdown Lowdown - the only publication dedicated to youth performing arts in Australia. Presenting Lowdown Online: the national information and discussion resource supporting youth performing arts in Australia. Scheduled for launch in February 2010 Lowdown Online goes for virtual gold in the world of digital arts publishing. Lowdown Magazine is the only national publication for youth performing arts in Australia serving the arts community Australia wide for over 30 years. It is the only publication dedicated to profiling youth performing arts companies, practitioners and young and emerging artists working across art forms. Throughout its history, Lowdown has provided a national forum for practitioners and emerging artists, delivering resources, opportunities and audiences for Australian youth arts. It is acknowledged as a world leader in its field, and the publication has been a passionate advocate and a bold supporter of diverse, innovative performing arts practice for, with and by young people. Online delivery adds to the benefits of the print publication by providing a responsive and interactive resource that a print publication cannot deliver.
Published in conjunction with Lowdown Magazine until December 2009 – Lowdown will then be fully transitioned into digital delivery in 2010. Targeted to organisations, practitioners, stakeholders, government and educators interested in youth performing arts, the website will not be a static information resource. Through dynamic functionality and interactive networking services we aim to increase connections within the sector. Lowdown Online will provide the opportunity for users to: interact with content by providing discussion through online forums and discussion boards; access information and in depth articles providing critique and review; network and share information; promote to and develop audiences and engage in critical dialogue through its interactive capabilities. The site will provide a greatly enhanced opportunity for promotion for youth performing arts and theatre for young audiences nationally and internationally through advertising and promotional opportunities. The Lowdown Onine objectives: - Provide access to youth performing arts content and activity in Australia
- Provide networking and information sharing
- Publish high quality articles and reviews
- Link Australia to an international network
- Develop and engage new youth theatre audiences
- Enable exchange, discussion, dialogue and debate between practitioners through dynamic forums and other interactive tools
- Publish back issues of Lowdown Magazine – providing articles and content that are a valuable historical perspective for research and other purposes
- Provide easily accessible participation as well as offer hosting and development opportunities
- Encourage the participation of young people
Lowdown AudiencePrimary audiences for the Lowdown Online include: - Current Lowdown readership and subscriber base
- Arts and cultural organisations and individuals
- Artists engaged in theatre for, by and with young people
- Arts and education professionals, educators, academics and students
- Government agencies
- Actual or potential partners
Key Features of Lowdown OnlineLowdown Online will be an online resource dedicated to housing information and discussion of issues pertaining to youth performing arts in Australia. Rather than acting as a web portal the website will not be a dynamic platform providing the opportunity for users to interact with the content through relevant information, links, networks, and by participating in events and providing the capacity for critical discussion. Key features and Information Services of the site will provide a greatly enhanced opportunity for networking and promotion nationally and internationally. Key Features- Profiling of Youth Performing Arts organisations and artists
- News and events
- Online forums and discussion groups
- Feature articles
- Reviews
- ‘What’s On’ Listings
- Calendar of Events
- Market Place
- Lowdown Online newsletter
- Repository of Lowdown back issues
- Access to Directions – the Tertiary Guide to Education in the Performing Arts
Additional Features- Multiple subscription levels and profiles
- Provision for members to have a website or blog
- Provision for members/partners to have a fully featured system
- (i.e. website using the same platform as Lowdown Online)
- Quality Content Management System
- Questionnaires and profiles for data collection
- Industry Directory
- Loyalty marketing to targeted groups
- E-commerce capabilities
- Client Web Hosting services – provision of a web platform and technological solution for organisations seeking online presence.
Lowdown Online development and transition phase takes place in 2009 when both print and online publications are operational. During this time the online platform will be built and tested and online community established. Online delivery is growing and has an impact on print publications. It is essential that Lowdown create a strong online presence to maintain access and relevance to a larger audience, as well as collaborate with industry peers to further support youth performing arts in Australia. A greater online presence will also assist in increased exposure, increased youth participation, ease of access and relevance. Lowdown Online will be a fully functional, well populated site, with an active online community. In 2010 Lowdown Magazine will be fully transformed to online delivery. We stress in all our activity that Lowdown is the only youth performing arts magazine in Australia, and stress its uniqueness in the marketplace as well as its in-depth knowledge of, and connectivity with the sector and the industry on a national and international scale. Lowdown Subscribers – how to get involvedIf you are a Lowdown subscriber you will have automatic subscription to Lowdown Online.
Until December 2009 all Lowdown subscribers will receive their youth performing arts news and information via a combination of the print publication of Lowdown Magazine and Lowdown Online e-updates. In 2010 the publication will be delivered digitally through Lowdown Online and its services. Print publication will cease after 2010. At this stage funding for the Lowdown 2010 program does not include the support for print publications. Lowdown is sourcing potential partners and sponsors to support quarterly print publications which capturing articles and reviews published online. As the site develops through the remainder of 2009 all Lowdown subscribers will have automatic access as members of the site. In addition to the print publication all subscribers will receive extra articles, reviews and news items in addition to the print publication. Lowdown subscribers will receive:- online access to state, territory, music and arts and education columns
- online access to the ‘What’s On’ event listings and calendar
- regular updates on youth arts activity in Australia
- access to all levels of features articles and reviews
- access to online forums, blogs, discussion groups and commentary
- industry specials for shows and events
- access to the online market place
Schools MembershipSchools and libraries are a very important part of the Lowdown family. Access to Lowdown Online’s content will be available to ALL teachers and students through a schools membership. This means any student, teacher or librarian will have access to the best quality information and discussion of youth arts practice that covers theatre, dance, puppetry, music, hybrid arts practice and performance that is for, by or with young people in Australia. Lowdown Online is cutting edge online publishing and will be an amazing resource.
The official launch is scheduled for February 2010. If you are a subscriber now you will have automatic membership until the end of 2010. If you have any questions or comments for the Lowdown Online development team please email the Lowdown Editor Lowdown Online is supported by the Australia Council, the Australian Government’s arts funding and advisory body, through its Theatre Board Section.
Lowdown is published by Carclew Youth Arts and gratefully acknowledges the assistance of: - The Government of South Australia through Arts SA and SAYAB.
- The Queensland Government through Arts Queensland
- The ACT Government
- Douglas Press
- Stickybeak Productions
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