phunktional :: About

Phunktional		A vibrant, innovative and cutting edge arts company making art with and for communites across Australia
About Us Sound of Silence, SOLD OUT season Melbourne Fringe Festival 2008. Photo: Tatjana Plitt Calling the Shots, Mildura, Scheherazade performance 2009. Photo: Joe Pascquale Melbourne Breaks, Melbourne Tour 2008. Photo: Tatjana Plitt		Phunktional uses a broad cross-section of artistic forms to provide a forum to provoke discussion about difficult issues and deepen cultural understanding. Sub cultures such as hip hop, combined with dance styles including break dance, flamenco, African, Capoeira and contemporary indigenous dance are used to tackle difficult subjects head-on, capitalising on Phunktional's own youthful blend of creative expression to reach its audiences. Mission To make entertaining art that creatively explores issues about conflict and social justice, promoting well being and sustainability. Vision A global arts movement that brings people together and enriches their lives. Phunktional works closely with nationally recognised organisations such as Sexual Health and Family Planning, VicHealth, beyondblue, Australia Council for the Arts, Ausdance and Multicultural Arts Victoria to deliver high quality arts projects that support positive social change in communities through art. Since the company's inception in 2004, over 3,800 people have participated in more than 30 Phunktional projects. During this time, audience numbers have exceeded 100,000. We aim to: Develop public appreciation of art, making it more accessible by staging entertaining, creative and professional performances for targeted communities and localities across Australia Support up and coming, as well as established performers by enlisting and nurturing their skills for our innovative productions Create impactful and thought-provoking artistic projects, specifically to explore issues of conflict and social injustice in today’s society Further the social and cultural welfare of the communities in which the company operates, bringing individuals together and enriching their lives Work in conjunction with at-risk groups to prevent them from falling victim to social pressures; helping to bring about positive social change and build a brighter future. Phunktional Philosophy: Art is for people, by people, working with people To work with the needs and voices of the people involved, with an awareness of the current social climate and government policy of the day Strive for sustainable work practices and community outcomes built on a triple bottom line (Environmental, Social and Economical) definition of sustainability Empowering Community through building partnerships with like minded organizations Respect and nurture diversity All art created is special to the company and of the highest quality To use and work with a diverse, flexible pool of artists and volunteers To acknowledge and respect difference as an essential first step to discovering common ground.
Key People Photo: Tatjana Plitt		Artistic Director - Gerard Veltre Gerard Veltre was first introduced to the arts as a teenager when he was part of a Community Cultural Development (CCD) hip hop dance project in the western suburbs of Melbourne. He went on to dance at clubs and then completed a Performing Arts degree at Deakin University. As an Australian Youth Ambassador Gerard completed a four month residency in Thailand with dance/theatre company, Makhampom where he created the performance till the end of time. With an Emerging Artists grant from the Australia Council Gerard toured overseas to observe rehearsals and take class with Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch in Germany and participated in workshops in the north of England with Charlotte Vincent Dance Theatre. Over the last 12 years he has worked with diverse cultural groups of young people and their communities around Australia to foster an inclusive culture of dance that champions artistic expression. These communities have included remote Aboriginal communities, youth at risk and young people in prisons. Gerard Veltre’s professional work reflects the diversity of his grass roots experience in Australian communities. In 2004 Veltre guest Directed ‘Crouching B’boy, hidden Dreadlocks’ a hip hop show by Morganics for the Sydney Opera House. In the same year he created ‘Love Drunk’ a show about an incident of sexual assault that is still successfully touring to secondary schools across Australia. More recently he has created: ‘Remember Me’ a multi-cultural dance performance that toured Australia through Kultour; and ‘Melbourne Breaks’ an award winning full length dance piece working with some of the best b’boys in the country. In 2006 Veltre choreographed for the Terrain Program (supported through Ausdance and Multicultural Arts Victoria). In 2007 Veltre undertook a series of professional developments in Serbia with Joe Allegado and in Cuba with the National Contemporary dance company of Cuba. In 2008 he was part of Dance House ‘Girls on Boys’ season choreographed by Yummi Umiumare, and taught dance workshops to young people on Palm Island in North Queensland and created ‘The Sound of Silence’ Australia’s first full length dance work with deaf dancers.