Co-creating the RAPP: What it looked like from inside | Part two
Regional Arts WA
The Regional Arts Partnership Program is a new form of arts funding and program development, created by Country Arts WA over the last three years in consultation with the regional arts sector. It brings together regional and Perth organisations to create themed “clusters”, which network people and resources from everywhere in WA to create programs that meet the needs and priorities of regional communities.
Here we are at part two of the story of Co-creating the RAPP (read Part One – Fionas story here). Cathy Cummins, Manager of Waringarri Aboriginal Arts tells us how she went about leading the Aboriginal Arts Centre cluster:
Putting the cluster together started with contacting individual art centre participants via email and phone, engaging a project support person and a bit of general research in preparation of the planning process.
We first interviewed each of the participating art centres to understand their business model, needs, capabilities and aspirations for the future. We also ran two workshops (one in Perth, one in the Kimberley) out of which we created a proposal for a pilot project to support the sustainability of art centres and professional opportunities for next generation artists and arts-workers. This was named Cultural Futures: Next Generations Leadership.
While it was challenging to effectively engage all art centres in the full process, those that participated have built a strong network and a commitment to the project. Coordinating the schedule was compromised by the conflicting commitments of individual’s arts centres, the short turn-around of the scoping phase plus the high cost of remote, regional travel which used up most of the allocated RAPP Co-creation budget.
On the other hand, we succeeded in including the full participation of most of those identified in the initial cluster; 5 of 8 working group members and 1 of the consultation group. Another two working group members participated in part, and all but one contributed to the consultation.
The scoping process established a strong network among the arts centre representatives. Face to face workshops provided significant opportunity to effectively understand each art centre’s specific needs as well as clarify areas of common ground on which to build a regional development plan. The workshop discussions enabled important contribution from all participants.
Follow the story – read Kirsty Duffys experience here.
To learn more about the project Cultural Futures: Next Generations Leadership click here.
“Colleen and l are so excited to be part of Cultural Futures, reading the announcement and seeing Northampton Old School there just made it rea/for us. Since committing ourselves to be part of this project Colleen ond I have found it very “enabling”, changing how we make decisions – letting go of some things, and taking a risk on others.” Annette Sellers, Northampton Old School
“This is important for art centres to work together. Together we can help each other and teach our next generation” Ben Ward, Waringarri Aboriginal Arts
