Cultural planning kit comprising video and booklet launched at King Street Arts Centre

13/5/98

Arts Minister Peter Foss today launched a video and booklet which is aimed at making a significant contribution to community cultural development in Western Australia.

The video,"Make Your Place Special", and booklet, "A Window into 5 Communities", was launched at the King Street Arts Centre.

"The video and booklet comprise a cultural planning kit which demonstrates how some Western Australian regional and metropolitan local governments have used culture and the arts to meet social and economic goals within their communities," Mr Foss said.

"A Window Into 5 Communities" and "Make Your Place Special" were developed by Community Arts Network(WA) and One Up Film Association (Inc) with funding provided by ArtsWA.

"The video and booklet are made up of experiences with cultural planning and development as told by Council Chief Executive Officers, Community Arts and Community Development Officers, Mayors, Aboriginal Community Leaders, Councillors and Artists," Mr Foss said.

"These were snapshots from communities ranging from a small rural shire of 725 people to a large and rapidly expanding outer metropolitan City of more than 60,000 people.

"I encourage all those working in local Government to take on the message of these works and remind them they have a role in the development of arts and cultural activity and that there are real social and economic benefits in undertaking cultural planning," Mr Foss said.

The Minister also commended the video and booklet to all involved or with responsibilities in planning, economic development, local administration, culture and the arts.

"This kit is a valuable step in developing arts and cultural projects with mainstream development and planning processes which will benefit the social and economic health of our communities," he said.

Media Contact: Steve Manchee 94812133