Workshop Two | Artful Leadership for Community Building Program

Workshop Two | Artful Leadership for Community Building Program

Gemma Robins

Fifteen program participants from across the Goldfields-Esperance region gathered in Kalgoorlie-Boulder for workshop two of the Artful Leadership for Community Building Program, which was held from Friday 16 to Sunday 18 October at the Rydges Kalgoorlie Resort and Spa.

The group enjoyed the ambient surrounds of the conference room, which was provided with the compliments of Rydges manager, Nicolas Parkerson-Bates who is an avid supporter of Country Arts WA.

Over the three days, the group worked together to explore and develop a much deeper understanding of concepts like resilience, authenticity and integrity and of the generative power of dialogue and courageous conversations and our reactive tendencies using individual and group action learning projects as case studies. The group also looked at Myers Briggs Personality Testing to develop a better understanding of their own and others personality types and ways of working.

Tony Crook, the chairman of the Goldfields-Esperance Development Commission addressed the group on Sunday morning to talk about the Draft Goldfields-Esperance Regional Investment Blueprint submission process and answer questions. The group worked together to develop a submission to the blueprint on behalf of the Leadership Program participants.

On Sunday afternoon the Artful Leadership group gathered at Wongutha Birni Cultural Centre to hear a presentation by Dr Christine Jeffries-Stokes and Annette Stokes about the Western Desert Kidney Health Project – the most comprehensive community arts and health research projects undertaken in the history of the Goldfields-Esperance region. These two women provided powerful insights in to the benefits of collaboration and teamwork, and working in a culturally appropriate way to generate the greatest impact.

The group will invite the arts sector and representatives from other sectors to participate in the Open Space Forum to be held in Esperance on 27 November, which is the first day of the third and final Artful Leadership Program workshop.

Find out more about the Artful Leadership for Community Building Program here. 

Find out more about the Goldfields-Esperance Arts & Culture Framework here. 

This Artful Leadership for Community building program has been made possible with funding from the Goldfields‐Esperance Development Commission through the State Government’s Royalties for Regions, Regional Grants Scheme.