Federal Labor have announced $114,000 for a Peel Music Hub at the John Butler Studio in Fairbridge Village if their Canning candidate Mellisa Teede is elected.
On Friday, Ms Teede joined Mandurah MP David Templeman, Brand MP Madeleine King and Fairbridge hospitality and development manager Jade Creevey to announce the potential cash splash to regional arts.
The Peel Music Hub will provide access for 14-24 year olds from across Boddington, Serpentine-Jarrahdale, Waroona, Pinjarra and Mandurah to a leading contemporary music practice space.
In addition to providing practice and learning spaces the facility also provides the opportunity for participants to record their music at the John Butler Studio and hold performances at the 60-seat Lady Kyle Theatrette.
Connections with Peel region industry music performers and managers will also allow young musicians to perform at a wide range of festivals held across the region and enable them to fulfil their musical ambitions.
Ms Teede said the Hub would have a number of benefits, including adding value to the existing John Butler Studio.
"It will include the opportunity for our young people to not only develop their music skills, but to also explore other areas needed to pursue careers in the music industry, including sound engineering and production," she said.
"Labor is all about making sure we give our children access to the opportunity to develop their musical talents ... and this will reach out to children whose parents maybe can't afford to send their kids to music lessons.
"Music develops a child's cognitive abilities so it isn't just the artistic expression or the fact that they can play music - it has enormous benefits for their overall learning as well as their wellbeing."
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Mandurah MP and WA minister for culture and the arts David Templeman said the announcement demonstrated Labor's commitment to the arts.
"Fairbridge has a great history of delivering quality programs and opportunities to young people in the region and wider," he said.
"What is also allows now with me being the state minister for culture and the arts is we have a contemporary music fund
"With a resource such as this, it will allow us to direct contemporary music fund monies into initiatives that can now be enhanced through the John Butler Studio.
"This is exciting, this will be a great collaboration between state and federal Labor and deliver outcomes that will enhance the skills of contemporary artists in WA."
It just makes sense to enhance the John Butler Studio and provide more opportunity for the arts, not just for the region but for WA as a whole.
- Fairbridge hospitality and development manager Jade Creevey
Fairbridge hospitality and development manager Jade Creevey welcomed the commitment on behalf of Fairbridge Village.
"We're excited by this announcement by the Labor government," she said.
"We are a youth charity in Pinjarra, our mission is to provide opportunities for disadvantaged youth.
"It just makes sense to enhance the John Butler Studio and provide more opportunity for the arts, not just for the region but for WA as a whole."
Labor hope in the medium to longer term, the project will be expanded to include audio visual and animation production to prepare young people in the Peel region with the skills needed for the future of work.
