ABOUT US
OUR STORY
PACT’s vision is driven by the belief that emerging artists are the engines that power the arts sector, producing the most ground-breaking works of today and tomorrow.
60’S
Founded in 1964 by Robert Allnut, Jack Mannix and Patrick Milligan, in the period just before the New Wave of the late 1960s and early 70s, there were very few places for artists to develop new work. Located at The Corn Exchange, 173-185 Sussex Street, PACT became that place—a cooperative involving people who would go on to make major contributions to Australian theatre, film and television including alumni such as Peter Weir, Jack Thompson, Leonard Teale, Grahame Bond, Alex Buzo and Dorothy Hewett.
70’s
By the early 1970s, Australian stories were being told on both stage and screen, and in 1974 PACT shifted its focus to young people, becoming PACT Youth Theatre and appointing Mannix as its first Artistic Director.
80’S & 90’s
In 1988, the company moved to its current premises at 107 Railway Parade, Erskineville, and was at the forefront of a new movement in diverse cultural storytelling supporting local communities and makers—works such as Taga Theatre Group’s Al Qamareya (The Moongate) in 1991; the premiere of the stage adaptation of Looking for Alibrandi in 1995; and Stand Your Ground in 2001-03, which developed into the first Gathering Ground event at The Block in collaboration with Redfern Community Centre in 2006.
2000’s
In 2009, PACT developed a new vision and name, becoming PACT Centre for Emerging Artists. This was driven by the artists themselves, who were closer to 30 than 20 and did not necessarily identify as youth. In 2020, PACT reshaped its team to embrace a model of collaborative cultural leadership, appointing a group of exceptional artists as our Artistic Directorate. This new direction marked a return to the company’s original vision—to recognise the strength in collectivity, and to support emerging artists to develop new Australian work.
today
Today, PACT continues to nurture the next generation of outstanding performance makers through mentorships, residencies, talks, workshops, exhibitions, and performances. We draw on our near 60-year history and our network of artists as a unique asset, which—together with our iconic warehouse space in Erskineville—fuels a vibrant and inclusive hub where adventurous artists, curious audiences, and the local community gather.
OUR COMMITMENT
Social justice and cultural equity inform how PACT provides opportunities for artists, what we choose to program, and how we engage and work with the communities that we provide space for.
We pride ourselves not only on the rigour of our artists, but also as being the space where artists at a structural disadvantage within the Australian artistic ecosystem can develop and refine their craft.
OUR PEOPLE
staff
Justine Shih Pearson
Executive Director / CEO
Brian Obiri-Asare
Operations Manager
Jeremy Neofytos
Acting Marketing Manager
Sharlini Williams
Associate Producer (Venue & Projects)
Frankie Clarke
Production Manager
Artistic directorate
Vicki Van Hout
Sēini ‘SistaNative’ Taumoepeau
Nat Randall
Malcolm Whittaker
Su Goldfish
Treasurer
BOARD
Ali Murphy-Oates
Chair
Kim Spinks
Deputy Chair
Dee Jefferson
Board Member
Jonathan Bollen
Board Member
Rādhikā Ram Tevita
Board Member