Fluxus Launches Fluxus Opera Lab

Shifting the culture of opera making in Australia, FLUXUS is proud to announce the FLUXUS Opera Lab, a groundbreaking program for artists which will champion bold ideas, diverse voices, and collaborative exploration. The Lab is open to emerging and mid-career writers and composers of all genres and invites applications from writers and composers with an interest in exploring operatic form, with no prior opera experience required. Entries open this week,

The FLUXUS Opera Lab aims to expand what opera can be, nurturing the development of new works through mentorship, collaboration, and financial support, led by opera runaway Ali McGregor and producer Wendy Richards.

Artists are provided with mentorship from experienced creators and industry leaders, space to experiment, test, fail, and refine ideas, collaborate across disciplines, engage in dialogue, build new partnerships and develop support to move works from concept towards production, creating new Australian repertoire, opening space for storytellers from diverse backgrounds and for those who have previously felt “othered” by opera.

Panel members include one of the country’s most prolific festival directors, Lindy Hume AM PhD; opera singer, composer and Yorta Yorta woman Deborah Cheetham Fraillon AO; theatre director Sarah Giles; composer and artistic director of Sydney Chamber Opera Jack Symonds; writer, poet and librettist Alison Croggon; and composer and program director for the Melbourne Recital Centre, Iain Grandage AM. Mentors include composer Felicity Willcox, playwright Alana Valentine, composer Casey Bennetto, and writer Dr Caitlyn Vincent.

“FLUXUS Opera Lab creates pathways for traditionally underrepresented voices in opera, a field often inaccessible to many. By offering hands-on experience for emerging singers and composers, the FLUXUS Opera Lab will bridge the gap between experimentation and professional practice, ensuring that the future of opera in Australia remains vibrant and reflects our rich cultural diversity” says Lindy Hume AM PhD, Director and Creative Director, Crimson Rosella Creative Adventures.

Opera Lab is now calling for submissions from all over the country, including Australian creatives living overseas. For more information or to submit interest, visit https://www.fluxus.com.au/operalab

Key dates: Submissions Open – 28 October 2025/ Submissions Deadline – 10 February 2026/ Grant Recipients Announced – 24 March 2026/ Space to Create Due – 5 October 2026