The Committee for Perth is working together with a taskforce of luminaries to create a vision for the future of arts and culture in Western Australia.
Creating a Vision for the Arts and Culture Sector
Aim: To create a vision for the arts sector in Western Australia.
Purpose: To take the industry far enough into the future to be able to collectively describe a vision that will serve to build a greater awareness and appreciation of the sector so as to broaden its reach and impact on the community. It will also serve as a rallying point for discussion about the short and longer term needs and wants of the sector. To allow the sector to interact more effectively with the both the government and business sectors. In the medium term this project should lead to the development of long term, cross sectoral, strategic and action plans.
Activity: In order to examine the contribution that arts and culture could bring to the capital city, the Committee for Perth gained funding from Lotterywest and initiated a research project in 2008 to create a vision for culture and the arts in Perth.
The project was overseen by a Taskforce chaired by Margaret Seares, made up of government and private sector representatives, and a reference group of key organisations and individuals involved in the arts.
In 2008, the input of a broad range of people and organisations was gathered to look at how culture and the arts could be utilised to enhance the capital city of Perth. The process included:
• an online questionnaire – 312 responses received
• a workshop – 198 people attended and contributed ideas
• 15 focus groups and meetings – over 90 people or organisations provided input
• feedback session – over 80 people responded to the draft direction of the Cultural Compact.
This process brought together individuals from across the arts and cultural sector – including traditional art form areas, heritage, education, media and commercial entertainment, design and town planning.
Outcome: The significant product of this undertaking was the development of the Cultural Compact for WA: The 10 Year Challenge – a plan that invites the WA Government, the corporate sector, philanthropic organisations, local government and the arts and cultural sector to work together to revitalise Perth and regional cities and towns in Western Australia. The Cultural Compact includes some fifteen actions aimed at improving Perth both culturally and economically by creating a vibrant place where arts and culture forms part of everyday life and where they both engage and encourage people to stay, return or visit Perth and the broader state of Western Australia.
The Cultural Compact was launched on 13 November 2008 to all stakeholders. During 2009, the Revitalising Working Group will continue to explore and facilitate action of the various recommendations of the report.