“Stretching out stretch” was how Town Ward councillor Peter Rogers best described a proposal put before elected representatives recently to extend Mandurah’s popular creative festival.
The proposal included transforming Stretch Festival from a two-day event into a four to six-week jam-packed calendar of art related activities.
The matter was put towards the City of Mandurah’s council in a report and during a special presentation by the local government’s art strategy officer Emily Arnold on November 13.
The visual presentation outlined a recently undertaken review of the City of Mandurah arts program and creative activities on offer locally.
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The review was undertaken by Perth Theatre Trust’s former general manager Alan Ferris in May 2018.
Among key findings on the effectiveness of the current service model, Ms Arnold revealed recommendations to change the colourful festival in May to a longer program of initiatives towards the end of the year.
The review recommended the festival focus on placing October and November under a ‘Stretch Arts Season’ banner.
Ms Arnold also ran through the costs and interest associated with conducting a festival over a longer period of time.
According to the report, stretch the festival out to a four to six time period would cost the local government an extra $60,000.
However, the report tipped an extended period of a year would reduce costs.
A year-long calendar of events was priced significantly less at $285,000 rather than $357,000 for two days or $417,000 for four to six weeks.
Stretch Festival has been running for the past 17 years, with a strong focus on workshops and skills development.
According to the presented report, about 2,500 community members participated in activities and workshops in the months prior to the festival in 2017-18.
The report also estimated between 15,000 and 20,000 attended the last event.
Cr Rogers also floated passed the idea of rebranding and reshaping the festival.
Mandurah mayor Rhys Williams echoed his idea, stating that as the festival grew it was time council looked at how the City of Mandurah marketed the occasion and what could be capitialised on.
Councillors will vote to approve the city’s annual art review at their next official meeting on November 27.
What are your thoughts on the idea? share your opinion with our team via editor.mandurahmail@fairfaxmedia.com.au.
Follow Caitlyn Rintoul on Twitter via @caitlynrintioul.
