Rio Tinto boss Sam Walsh will chair the newly formed Chamber of Arts and Culture WA, which boasts a stellar board including Janet Holmes a Court, John Langoulant, Helen Cook and Margaret Seares.
Rio Tinto boss Sam Walsh will chair the newly formed Chamber of Arts and Culture WA, which boasts a stellar board including Janet Holmes a Court, John Langoulant, Helen Cook and Margaret Seares.
The Chamber is the first of its kind in Australia and was formed to provide a united voice to promote, advocate and represent the value of a vibrant and sustainable arts and cultural sector in WA.
"The Chamber of Arts and Culture WA will be the state's representative arts body, providing an independent, cohesive voice for the sector in Western Australia," said Mr Walsh.
"The Chamber aims to highlight our achievements and advocate for action as a broad collective on the major issues that impact the sector.
"WA has the capacity to further shine in culture and the arts," he said.
Membership of the Chamber is open to arts organisations, individual artists and individuals and organisations that support the importance of arts and culture.
The five selected members of the board, will be joined by seven key arts contributors nominated from the membership of the former WA Arts Federation and new members of the Chamber.
They are the former chair of the WA Arts Federation and Artsource executive director Jude van der Mere, Jane King from Museums Australia, arts personality and indigenous culture and arts advocate Mark Bin Bakar, Cathcart Weatherly from Spare Parts Puppet Theatre, Pilar Kasat from Community Arts Network, the Film and Television Institute's Graeme Sward and former ABC Radio National Broadcaster Barry Strickland.
See statement from the Chamber below:
The Chamber of Arts and Culture WA, the first Chamber of its kind in Australia, was launched today at His Majesty's Theatre in Perth by its Chairman elect, Sam Walsh AO. Present was Western Australia's Minister for Culture and the Arts, the Hon. John Day MLA and over 100 key arts and culture participants and leaders.
Formed to provide a united voice to promote, advocate and represent the value of a vibrant and sustainable arts and cultural sector in Western Australia, the Chamber launches at a time when Western Australia is emerging as a key centre of economic growth off the back of its rapidly expanding resources sector.
"This is a perfect time to celebrate our achievements, address our challenges and develop a world class arts and culture hub in WA to match our growing reputation as an economic powerhouse in the region." said Mr Walsh.
"The Chamber of Arts and Culture WA will be the state's representative arts body, providing an independent, cohesive voice for the sector in Western Australia," he said.
"Arts and culture plays an integral role in the lives of Western Australians, a role that is at times unsung and unrecognised in both its contribution and its benefits. The Chamber aims to highlight our achievements and advocate for action as a broad collective on the major issues that impact the sector. WA has the capacity to further shine in culture and the arts"
"We will also provide advice to Local, State and Federal Governments and other stakeholders to facilitate long term planning and resourcing of culture and the arts in Western Australia," said Mr Walsh.
The Chamber will promote the value of culture and the arts as an essential and mainstream aspect for Western Australians of all ages focusing on areas such as leadership, infrastructure, funding, research, embracing technology and the importance of our regions.
Membership of the Chamber is open to arts organisations, individual artists and individuals and organisations that support the importance of arts and culture in our lives.
The Chamber's Chairman elect, Sam Walsh, Chief Executive of Rio Tinto Iron Ore was recently appointed as an Officer in the General Division of the Order of Australia and awarded an Honorary Doctor of Commerce by Edith Cowan University for his contribution to business and the community. He has been an active contributor to arts and culture in WA for many years through his role as Chairman of the Australian Arts and Business Foundation WA Chapter and the Black Swan Theatre Company.
Other selected Board members include key arts and culture luminaries in Perth such as celebrated arts advocate Janet Holmes a Court AC, WA Ballet Board member and businessman, John Langoulant AO, former WA Art Gallery Chair, Helen Cook and respected arts expert Margaret Seares AO.
The five selected members will be joined by seven key arts contributors nominated from the membership of the former WA Arts Federation and new members of the Chamber: the former Chair of the WA Arts Federation and Artsource Executive Director, Jude van der Mere, Jane King (Museums Australia), well known arts personality and indigenous culture and arts advocate, Mark Bin Bakar, Cathcart Weatherly (Spare Parts Puppet Theatre), Pilar Kasat (Community Arts Network Western Australia), Graeme Sward (Film & Television Institute) and arts consultant writer and researcher and former ABC Radio National Broadcaster, Barry Strickland.