Mandurah has a growing and rich arts community, largely due to injections of funds from local and state government.
However, the Chamber of Arts and Culture WA is concerned this sector is at risk after years of diminishing government investment in arts and culture in Western Australia.
The chamber are setting out to unite the local arts community in a campaign to secure future arts funding ahead of the March state election.
A Chamber of Arts and Culture spokeswoman said Mandurah’s Revelator project was “an example of how a thriving and dynamic sector improves, enriches and changes lives, making a positive difference within local communities.”
Revelator came to Mandurah as the result of a collaboration between Ausdance and Parkinson’s WA, following a successful run at the WA Ballet Centre in Maylands.
The Mandurah workshops helped people diagnosed with Parkinson’s to engage in dance and find ways to be positive, social and physical despite their condition, while for the teachers, they continued to develop their very specialised training and skill-base.
“Participants in the initial Revelator workshops in Mandurah – which were also supported by the City of Mandurah and Act-Belong-Commit - reported improved overall coordination; greater self-confidence; a gentle work-out for the whole body; challenging - lots of thinking and coordination,” the spokeswoman said.
She said it provided important social interactions, taught them dance vocabulary, a safe environment for self-expression and the option to sit or stand throughout class.
Initially held at Mandurah Performing Arts Centre, the weekly classes continued on Thursdays at Wicked Dance Works on Reserve Drive, where participation is still in popular demand.
“Nearly six months on and class lists still remain full,” the spokeswoman said.
In the lead-up to the election the Chamber of Arts and Culture WA hopes to highlight the extensive value of WA’s creative arts sector and its positive contribution to health, education, tourism, community engagement and the State’s economy, through a campaign called ‘Arts Improves Lives’.
“We have called for an election commitment from all political parties to stop the funding cuts and to pledge at least an increase of $100 million over four years to revive the sector and ensure the continuation and expansion of community programs,” director Henry Boston said.
“The impact of continuing cuts to the arts budget has already been felt across the sector, and it won’t be long before it begins to impact on the State’s bottom line.
“This also puts pressure on other sectors where arts and cultural programs are effecting positive change in areas, like Revelator.”
He said ‘Arts Improves Lives’ would demonstrate the broad benefits of a thriving arts sector, from major performing arts organisations partnering with hospitals to help deliver health outcomes to local creative installations bringing forgotten spaces to life.
“Arts touches all our lives and we’d like to remind voters that a vibrant arts sector is important to Western Australians’ quality of life,” Mr Boston said.
To find out more about ‘Arts Improves Lives’ visit cacwa.org.au or follow the campaign on Facebook and Twitter.
