Projects
Brandenburg Trust Resident Artist Program
The Resident Artist program provides inclusive arts programming by funding placements of local artists in Aged Care Facilities in Albany. The Arts & Culture Team’s expertise is used to match artists to facilities, ensuring a good balance between style, medium and ability. Since the program started in 2019, three placements have been launched and are at varying stages of completion.
The pilot project at Hawthorn House was very well received and a case study can be read here. Placements at Clarence Estate and Craigcare are ongoing. Two further placements are planned for 2021, Aged Care Facilities and artists that would like to participate are encouraged to contact the Arts & Culture Team.
Funding for this project came from the Brandenburg Trust, and the Arts & Culture Team would like to thank the artists and Aged Care Facilities for their support in making this program possible.
Great Southern Arts, Culture and Heritage Strategy
The City of Albany in conjunction with the Great Southern Development Commission (GSDC), local government authorities (LGAs) in the Great Southern, creative organisations and the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries (DLGSCI) is working on a regional arts, culture and heritage strategy.
The arts, culture and heritage sector plays an important role in creating a vibrant, diverse and interesting community for residents and visitors. Culture represents our being – who we are, the way we do things and express who we are. Arts represents the expression of our being – how we express our culture through language and literature, art and music, dance and drama. Heritage is the history of our being – what connects the past with the present and the future. Together, arts, culture and heritage contribute to a sense of identity both for individuals and the community. However, as well as enriching the experiences of our daily life, the sector plays an important role in our economic development through employment, entertainment and tourism. Research shows that the sector provides flow-on advantages, social and economic. For the Great Southern, this can include:
Creating employment opportunities,
- Providing experiences and products to the tourism sector,
- Building the region’s brand,
- Enriching retail products,
- Building capacity with local artists,
- Developing viable, sustainable cultural eco-systems,
- Strengthening trails linking with other iconic areas of the Great Southern,
- Attracting and retaining residents,
- Adding value to the primary production chain (e.g. wineries or in conjunction with food events),
- Contributing to community vibrancy and livability, and
- Contributing to the diversity of education options.
The regional strategy will provide a vision and direction for connecting people and places while maximizing investment in the arts, culture and heritage amenities, programs and services. It is expected that the Strategy will be completed by late-2021.