Regional Arts WA Launches Groundbreaking Cultural Equity Program in the Goldfields-Esperance Region
Regional Arts WA
RAWA is proud to announce the launch of Social Fabric – weaving communities together, an innovative two-year arts, culture, and community program in the Goldfields-Esperance region.
Made possible through generous funding principally from Healthway and Lotterywest, this cultural equity and capacity building initiative, will be led by RAWA’s CEO Dr. Pilar Kasat and First Nations Officer Janine Oxenham.
Social Fabric aims to amplify the voices of underrepresented communities across Goldfields-Esperance, a vast region covering 770,488 sq km – three times the size of Victoria. The program specifically addresses the challenges of participation faced by First Nations people and multicultural communities. Social Fabric will work towards creating locally relevant, culturally safe, and inclusive models of engagement within the regional WA arts and culture sector.
“Our first workshop has shown the incredible potential for meaningful dialogue and connection in our community,” says Janine Oxenham, First Nations Officer at Regional Arts WA. “The enthusiasm and openness we’ve witnessed from participants demonstrates the readiness for this vital conversation.”
Image (left to right): Janine Oxenham (RAWA First Nations Officer), Social Fabric Local Coordination Debbie Carmody (Kalgoorlie), Candice Smith (Esperance) and Jane Mulcock (Social Fabric collaborator and support from Esperance Tjaltjraak Native Title Aboriginal Corporation), Dr Pilar Kasat (RAWA CEO) and Lydia Ramalepa (Esperance).
The program comes at a crucial time, as social cohesion across Australia has been steadily declining, with increased incident reports of social and institutional racism in our communities. Social Fabric aims to strengthen community connections by surfacing untold narratives and embracing innovative approaches to storytelling, capacity building for local producers, and intercultural exchanges.
“Social Fabric represents a crucial step toward creating a more equitable and inclusive arts sector in regional Western Australia,” says Dr. Pilar Kasat, CEO of RAWA. “Through strategic prioritisation of diverse creative voices and community engagement, we’re implementing systemic changes that will strengthen our cultural infrastructure and deliver measurable outcomes for regional development.”
The program will collaborate with Edith Cowan University to develop and trial cultural equity models tailored to regional communities. Expected outcomes include new forms of cultural expression, greater community capacity to challenge unfair institutional practices, and improved well-being through increased participation in arts and cultural activities.
Social Fabric will be delivered in partnership with Esperance Community Arts, Esperance Tjaltjraak Native Title Aboriginal Corporation, and Tjuma Pulka Media Aboriginal Corporation, Kalgoorlie.
For more information, please contact: CEO Pilar Kasat: pkasat@regionalartswa.org.au
