WheatbeltThe Wheatbelt is the third most populous region in the state. There are 43 local government authorities in over 110 localities. The Wheatbelt has five sub-regions: the Central Coast, Central Midlands, Central East, Avon and the Wheatbelt South.

Size: 154,862 km² Regional centres: Northam, Narrogin, Merredin and Moora

Population: 74,000 (approximate) Key industries: Agriculture and mining

Arts and culture across the region

• Community Arts Network WA (CAN WA) works with the community to increase participation in the arts and recognition of Noongar culture. participation in community arts and increase the recognition of Noongar culture. CAN WA has offices in Kellerberrin and Narrogin and has been working with the Aboriginal Progress Associations in the Wheatbelt to develop and test a cultural governance training program.

• Supported by CAN WA, the Kellerberrin Aboriginal Progress Association (KAPA) produces the annual Keela Dreaming Festival, which celebrates Noongar arts and culture. Avon Youth Community and Family Services is partnering with CAN WA to expand its engagement with young people through the arts.

• The West Australian Music’s Wheatbelt Contemporary Music Touring Circuit pilot project received strong local support and resulted in the release of the Sounds of the Wheatbelt CD.

• The Shire of Northam’s Plan for the Future 2010–2020 includes the development of the Northam Cultural Precinct, subject to funding.

• Merredin’s Cummins Theatre is a 500-seat venue. In 2013, the Cummins Theatre introduced two new residency programs – one for international artists and another for

individuals or companies based in Western Australia. Spare Parts Puppet Theatre was the first company in residence.

• The Moora Performing Arts Centre has retractable-tiered seating for 200 with the option of an additional 100 seats.

• The Kadjininy Kep Amphitheatre in Tammin and the Bruce Rock Federation Amphitheatre operate as smaller performing arts venues in the region. Funding has been approved to build the Wangaree Community Centre in Lancelin and a new DADAA premises in the coastal Wheatbelt.

• The Shire of Moora and the Moora Community Resource Centre have developed plans for an Aboriginal interpretative centre, which will also exhibit the work of local artists.

• There is a strong local arts community in the Shire of Moora, with regular workshops and exhibitions held by the Moora Fine Arts Society.

• Lake Grace has an active arts community with meetings, workshops and exhibitions held regularly at the Lake Grace Regional Art Space.

• The York Society fosters the preservation and restoration of buildings and settings of historical, architectural and aesthetic interest in the town of York and districts.

• The Wheatbelt Art Group is made up of artists, craftspeople and arts workers from eight Shires of the Eastern Wheatbelt: Lake Grace, Kondinin (including Hyden and Wave Rock), Kulin, Narembeen, Bruce Rock, Merredin, Cunderdin and Kellerberrin. The Group is interested in developing a brand to increase networks and markets for their products in partnership with the local tourism industry.

Department of Culture and the Arts funding in the region

• Arts Narrogin receives Vital Organisation funding from DCA via devolved funding to Country Arts WA’s Core Arts Fund to promote and develop the arts in the Narrogin district.

• DCA provides CAN WA with core funding. CAN WA-supported projects include the production of the Healing Songs CD by regional Noongar Musicians, and the Yarns of the Heart project with Noongar doll makers in the Wheatbelt. Work by the artists was exhibited at the Museum of Contemporary Arts in Sydney.

Arts and cultural priorities in the region

Outcomes from focus group consultations provide valuable insight into regional priorities that will guide the collaborative development of future initiatives by government, arts organisations and the local community. Regional issues and priorities as raised by participants of the Wheatbelt focus group include:

• The creation of employment opportunities for local artists in the region.

• Increasing opportunities for local artists to apply for public art commissions and improving community understanding of the process.

• Development of an ongoing community and audience engagement strategy to increase staff funding, programs and attendance at Merredin’s Cummins Theatre and the Moora Performing Arts Centre.

• The creation of a local umbrella organisation in Merredin, which would help smaller interest groups to become more sustainable.

Guy Ghouse, Christine Walsh and Byron Pickett recording demos in Quairading, Music Healing Workshop. Photo by Richard Watson

• Increasing education and training opportunities in the arts and creative industries in the region.

• Development of a drive trail to connect art spaces, studios and small museums, which would benefit cultural tourism in the region.

• Establishing a collaborative regional approach to sharing expertise and infrastructure in order to assist remote towns with limited resources for arts and culture, such as Lake Grace.

• Improving internet access and mobile phone coverage in the region to facilitate the use of new internet technologies (such as Webinars) in the education, distribution and promotion of the arts. Roll out of the National Broadband Network in the Wheatbelt will take another two to three years.

• Providing assistance to enable regional artists to attend the ‘Arts & Edges’ Regional Arts Australia Summit 2014 in Kalgoorlie-Boulder.

• Improving administration and financial management skills in the local arts sector.

• Increasing support for community volunteers and local arts and cultural organisations, including the Merredin Fine Arts Society and the Moora Fine Arts Society, which need the assistance of a professional arts coordinator.

• Addressing the lack of arts resources in Bakers Hill and Wandering – the Avon Valley Arts Society services have diminished, which has impacted on the smaller communities in the region.

• Establishing partnerships with key cultural events and festivals like the Perth International Arts Festival and the Telstra Perth Fashion Festival, which would be valuable to local artists and appreciated by the wider community.

• Providing support to enable touring performing arts companies to extend their reach and impact in each town beyond the scheduled performance; for example, by offering audience engagement workshops to the community.

• The Shire of York would also like to see more funding available for local government staff to access CAN WA’s regional local government training program.

Region-specific actions

Priorities Key Partners Actions Timeline

Objective 4: Creative Economies

4.2 Support for regional arts and cultural festivals and arts enterprises

Wheatbelt Development Commission (WDC);local government authorities;regional arts and cultural organisations

DCA will work with the WDC and other key stakeholders to support the development of regional arts and cultural festivals, conferences and arts enterprises.

2015–16

4.5 Increase market development opportunities for professional and developing artists in the region

WDC; local government authorities;regional arts and cultural organisations

DCA will partner with the WDC to identify market development opportunities and provide professional development for professional artists in the region.

2014–15

NarroginLake Grace

Moora

MerredinKellerberrin

Bruce RockYorkTammin

21

3

2

1

1

321

1

2

1

1

1

Arts and Cultural Infrastructure

Narrogin 1 ARtS Narrogin2 Community Arts Network WA 3 Narrogin Town Hall Complex

Kellerberrin 1 Community Arts Network WA2 Keela Dreaming Festival3 Kellerberrin Aboriginal Progress Association

Merredin1 Cummins Theatre 2 Merredin Fine Arts Society

Moora1 Moora Performing Arts Centre 2 Moora Fine Arts Society

Bruce Rock1 Bruce Rock Federation Amphitheatre

Tammin1 Kadjininy Kep Amphitheatre

Lake Grace 1 Lake Grace Regional Art Space

York1 The York Society