Investment into WA’s thriving arts, culture and creative sector continues
Regional Arts WA
Country Arts WA is pleased to acknowledge the ongoing commitment to the regional arts sector by the McGowan Labor Government with its continuation of the Creative Regions program in yesterday’s budget.
The Creative Regions program is the largest and most significant investment in regional arts in WA and across the country. The remaining Creative Regions funds are now secured for the next two years, ensuring the creation of more jobs, the delivery of increased performing arts touring and the production of more feature films from a regional base.
2016 NAIDOC Celebrations in Kalgoorlie-Boulder. Photo by Martine Perret.
Country Arts WA has been managing a part of the Creative Regions program aimed at expanding on existing partnerships and developing new partnerships and programs to provide services to regionally based arts organisations, artists and art workers across all art forms.
As a result of the first eighteen months of the Creative Regions program, from July 2015 to December 2016, Country Arts WA has ensured a strong return on investment for the State. The organisation has facilitated:
- 2,500+ job opportunities created
- 250,000+ regional and remote audience members engaged with arts and culture
- 8,000+ regional young people participated in arts activity in their local community
Country Arts WA Chair Ross Beckett says investing in a thriving arts, culture and creative sector is an investment in the State’s future.
“Arts and culture have a key role to play in making regional communities liveable, accessible, dynamic and diverse places to live. For every one dollar invested in 2015-16, regional arts organisations leveraged a further three dollars.”
“The regional arts sector uses art and culture to build strong communities, generate jobs, reimagine places and develop regional liveability. We now look forward to the projects and employment growth that will be created as a result of the announcement.” Mr Beckett said.
Country Arts WA also welcomes the election promise announcement this year of additional funding to increase regional WA touring of visual arts exhibitions.
