Premier primes the WA fashion industry for success

10/3/04 A $500,000 grants program to nurture the growing pool of talent in the Western Australian fashion industry is the centrepiece of the Government's response to the report of the Premier's Fashion Industry Taskforce.

10/3/04
A $500,000 grants program to nurture the growing pool of talent in the Western Australian fashion industry is the centrepiece of the Government's response to the report of the Premier's Fashion Industry Taskforce.
Outlining the Government's response to the taskforce at a suitably fashionable event at Subiaco's Colonnade tonight, Premier Geoff Gallop said the grants program would help encourage fledgling local designers and also ensure the benefits of their success stayed in WA.
"Our talented local designers are already producing unique, cutting edge clothing that has well and truly put WA on the fashion map," Dr Gallop said.
"We need to nurture up-and-coming designers so they can get their collections into the shop windows and on to the catwalks of Australia and the world, from a base here in WA."
The Premier also announced a new, comprehensive initiative to assist the creative industries and to recognise their contribution to WA's economy and community.
The Government will run a two-year pilot program of grants, with $250,000 worth of grants in each year. Funding has also been provided to employ a business development officer to assist grant applicants.
Under the new scheme, grants will be available for:

  • Travel: to assist designers to attend relevant industry events such as fashion weeks, conferences and intensive training programs.
  • Marketing: to assist designers to promote their collections and products to their target market.
  • Mentoring/partnership: to encourage designers to take on people seeking industry experience or collaborate with emerging designers on projects.
  • Business Development: to support the implementation of long-term strategies to improve business viability or take their activities to a new level.
Administrative arrangements are under way so the grants program can begin at the start of next financial year.
This grants program will add fashion to the growing list of creative industries supported by the Gallop Government, including film, electronic art, fine furniture and contemporary music.
Dr Gallop has appointed a creative industries policy working group to recommend an appropriate Government support structure and industry development strategy. The working group will examine the option of an agency within Government to support the creative industries - a role which is currently split across a number of departments.
"While the fashion taskforce recommended a specific fashion agency within Government, I believe there are considerable benefits to combining creative industry support in one agency to maximise co-ordination and opportunities for collaboration," the Premier said.
Creative industries have been defined by the Blair Government in the UK as those industries which have 'their origin in individual creativity skill and talent and which have the potential for wealth and job creation through the generation and exploitation of intellectual property'.
Creative industries are significant in WA for a number of reasons, including their:
  • growing economic impact;
  • potential for creating jobs and ending the creative 'brain drain', particularly of young people;
  • flow-on benefits for tourism; and
  • ability to encourage a diverse and sustainable economy.
The working group will be headed by prominent UK academic Professor Stephen Redhead, who has done extensive work on the creative industries in the UK, Canada and Europe.
Premier's office: 9222 9475