Arts council represented in Perth

Delegates from arts organisations in regional WA

Image Credit: Kelly Jennings, Marketing & Public Relations Manager CAWA

On the 17^th and 18^th May, three representatives of Ravensthorpe Regional Arts Council had the opportunity to attend a two day professional development workshop hosted and coordinated by Country Arts WA. 

Fay O’Brien, Melissa Daw and Amber Perryman enjoyed the diverse program of speakers offering practical and fresh information and are looking forward to implementing some of their ideas over the coming year.

Presenters from DADAA WA, Artsupport, Country Arts WA, Community Arts Network, Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal, Department of Culture and the Arts and Artrage (coordinators of FringeWorld) shared insights from their organisations and covered topics such as social media, communications, community and cultural development, grant seeking from government and philanthropic sectors and the ‘2020nine manifesto for regional arts in WA’ – a public document that has recently been distributed to local shires and politicians which was created in a consultative process at the 2011 state regional arts conference in Geraldton.

Attendees also heard from an award winning youth filmmaker and learnt some hands on photography skills. 

Aside from the programmed schedule there were plenty of opportunities to network with representatives from the other key organisations attending, all of whom currently receive annual funding from Country Arts WA. Current and past projects in Albany, the Kimberley and Esperance were shared giving all attendees a better understanding of arts in regional WA. Many ideas and opportunities for future collaborative projects were formulated at breakfast and sewn up by ‘wine time’!

Ravensthorpe Regional Arts Council received additional funding from Country Arts WA to cover transport and accommodation.