WA Cultural Achievement Awards

  

The Western Australian Cultural Achievement Awards publicly acknowledge outstanding arts and cultural innovation and management.

The Awards seek to promote the skills of WA arts and cultural organisations and arts workers and to encourage new partnership initiatives by acknowledging that culture can be enterprising whilst managing risk.

The recipients of the Western Australian Cultural Achievement Awards were announced at the AbaF State Awards in WA on Wednesday 2 September 2009.

Read the Minister's Statement

Winner of 2009 Excellence in Arts Enterprise

Community Arts Network WA

^{Chair of CAN WA, George Kingsley; Minister for Culture and the Arts, John Day;    
and Cultural Partnerships Manager of CAN WA, Simone Ruane    
Photograph by Christian Sprogoe}   

The inaugural recipient of the Excellence in Arts Enterprise Award is the Community Arts Network WA (CAN WA) by developing a program that aims to break down the barriers between Indigenous and non - Indigenous communities.

CAN WA's project Voices of the Wheatbelt encouraged the local community to express themselves and share their stories through the artistic mediums of photography and song writing. This project was initiated with children and adults and was aimed at developing artistic skills through workshops, giving the participants a chance to voice, and build upon, their experiences and relationships with their community. 

The overall result of the project was 26,000 photographs, four community exhibitions, an exhibition at Kidogo Arts House in Fremantle, and a commemorative book.

The results were unprecedented, with feedback being overwhelmingly positive. This, together with the relationships that have developed, will further benefit their future projects in the Wheatbelt.

Judges Comment

It was highly encouraging to see an organisation bravely using an easily accessible, yet non - traditional art form to assist the community develop an identity. The wide-reaching and well managed project is a true reflection of the organisation.

Winner of 2009 Excellence in Arts Management

Julian Donaldson

^{General Manager of Perth International Arts Festival, Julian Donaldson     
and Minister for Culture and the Arts, John Day.    
Photograph by Christian Sprogoe}   

The 2009 Excellence in Arts Management Award was presented to Julian Donaldson, General Manager of Perth International Arts Festival (PIAF).

Julian has developed into a mature leader during his four years at PIAF. As the General Manager, Julian has implemented sound business plans to maintain PIAF's position as one of the industry's leading arts organisations.

Julian has built and fostered strong relationships with partners ensuring mutually beneficial outcomes. These relationships have become vital to PIAF's success. Julian's ability to manage PIAF and strengthen its reputation, in both the industry and the wider community, are a testament to his skills as a leader in Arts Management.

Judges Comment

As General Manager of Perth International Arts Festival, Julian's strong leadership, deep understanding of the business community and close collaboration with the Festival's Artistic Director and staff has enabled the Festival to enter a new era of growth, maturity and stability.

For more information about the Award categories please click here 

Endorsements

Arts organisation are now invited to endorse their business partners who have had an active role in one or more arts or cultural activities between 1 July 2008 and 30 June 2009. Each endorsed partner will receive a signed letter from the Minister acknowledging their business partner for their invaluable support of arts and culture in Western Australia. 

Endorsements are a means to individually recognise the significant contribution the business sector makes to the Western Australian arts industry. 

Downloads

The nomination period has now closed.

Contact

For more information or queries regarding the Western Australian Cultural Achievement Awards, please contact the Department on 08 9224 7300 or email awards@dca.wa.gov.au

AbaF Awards

AbaF celebrates the best sponsorships, partnerships, business volunteering and giving relationships between the arts and private sectors in Australia.

Please visit the AbaF website or contact:

Western Australia

Director AbaF Western Australia: Henry Boston
Coordinator AbaF Western Australia: Maeve Kavanagh
C/- Freehills
Level 36, QV1 Building
250 St Georges Terrace
Perth 6000
Telephone: 08 9211 7923
Fax: 08 9211 7878
Email: wa@abaf.org.au

Entries closed for all awards at 5pm on Friday 15 May 2009.