Frank van Straten
Encyclopedia
Frank Van Straten is a notable performing arts historian, author and former director of the Performing Arts Museum.
Straten was the first archivist of the Performing Arts Museum (now Performing Arts Collection
), at the Arts Centre, Melbourne
, and its director from 1984 until 1993.
Between 1986 and 2001 Frank researched and presented ABC Radio’s Nostalgia segment, broadcast on Melbourne’s 774 and the Victorian Regional Network.
In 2002 Straten acted as the Historical Consultant for Graeme Murphy’s ‘dance musical’ Tivoli, performed by the Sydney Dance Company
, which premiered at the State Theatre, Arts Centre, Melbourne
.
Straten is a patron of the Cinema and Theatre Historical Society (Victoria), a member of the Board of the National Theatre, Melbourne, and a founding member and committee member of the Victoria Theatres Trust. He is also on the judging panels of the Green Room Awards
and Helpmann Awards.
In recognition of his services to the performing arts in Australia Straten was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 1999.
In 2007 Straten was appointed Live Performance Australia’s Official Historian.
Straten was the first archivist of the Performing Arts Museum (now Performing Arts Collection
Performing Arts Collection
The Performing Arts Collection at the Arts Centre, Melbourne is the largest specialist performing arts collection in Australia, with over 450,000 items relating to the history of circus, dance, music, opera and theatre in Australia and of Australian performers overseas.- Highlights of the...
), at the Arts Centre, Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, and its director from 1984 until 1993.
Between 1986 and 2001 Frank researched and presented ABC Radio’s Nostalgia segment, broadcast on Melbourne’s 774 and the Victorian Regional Network.
In 2002 Straten acted as the Historical Consultant for Graeme Murphy’s ‘dance musical’ Tivoli, performed by the Sydney Dance Company
Sydney Dance Company
The Sydney Dance Company is one of Australia's most successful and well-known contemporary dance companies. The company was founded in 1969 as the dance-in-education group Ballet in a Nutshell by Suzanne Musitz , later changing its name to Athletes and Dancers, and Dance Company ...
, which premiered at the State Theatre, Arts Centre, Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
.
Straten is a patron of the Cinema and Theatre Historical Society (Victoria), a member of the Board of the National Theatre, Melbourne, and a founding member and committee member of the Victoria Theatres Trust. He is also on the judging panels of the Green Room Awards
Green Room Awards
The Green Room Awards are peer awards which recognise excellence in cabaret, dance, drama, fringe theatre, musical theatre and opera in Melbourne....
and Helpmann Awards.
In recognition of his services to the performing arts in Australia Straten was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 1999.
In 2007 Straten was appointed Live Performance Australia’s Official Historian.
External links
- Interview with Frank van Straten conducted by Bill Stephens, 25 July 1994