PRESS
RELEASE: Forbes Arts & Culture Working Group
Forbes, Australia, 1 March 2006
DRAFT
CULTURAL PLAN NEARLY READY!
Forbes
Shire residents will be able to read the first draft of the long-awaited
Forbes Cultural Plan at the March meeting of the Forbes Arts &
Culture Working Group at 5.45 pm on Monday 6 March in the Forbes
Library.
The
draft Plan will include an introductory essay, or cultural framework,
by ‘writer-in-residence’ Merrill Findlay describing
the things that give shire residents their sense-of-place or belonging,
a brief history of the arts in what we now know as the Shire of
Forbes, and an outline of the range of cultural needs and practices
in the shire. It will also include an action plan for the next 3-5
years.
The
cultural framework and action plan are based on information contributed
through the Working Group’s consultation process in 2005,
on Merrill Findlay’s research on Forbes’ cultural heritage
and the in-depth interviews she is conducting with representative
of the shire's many cultural groups.
The
draft will be on public view in the Forbes Library for several months
during which time people can add their own suggestions and comments
which may be included in a second draft. The final draft will be
presented to Council for adoption toward the end of 2006, or in
early 2007.
“One
of the nicest things about this rather difficult voluntary ‘job’
is being able to talk to people about their passions for the visual
arts, music, theatre and other cultural practices,” Merrill
Findlay said.
“In
almost all the conversations I have had people have told me that
what they want more than anything is a gathering place. A multifunctional
arts and cultural centre of some kind where they can all meet, exhibit
or perform their work in twenty-first century conditions, and enjoy
travelling exhibitions and performances that are now impossible
to see in Forbes because there are no suitable facilities for them.
“Many
people told me that sports enthusiasts in the Shire already had
many good sports fields and club houses, and that it was about time
that the thousands of people who loved the arts and cultural events
in Forbes had similar public amenities,” Ms Findlay said.
“If
you go back through the shire’s history a picture emerges
of a vibrant and rich public cultural life, especially during the
gold era of the 1860s when the town of Forbes was really rocking!
But today much of our art and cultural activity seems to have gone
‘underground’. Creative people practice and enjoy the
arts in private and in small groups but have few places to meet,
to share their diverse skills and to be inspired by one another’s
work,” Ms Findlay said.
“Most
people told me that when they wanted to see new professional work
they had to go to other regional towns or to Sydney and Canberra.
This is a terrible loss to the shire.”
The
draft Action Plan includes a new multifunctional cultural or civic
centre, a new festival, murals, a farmers market, travelling exhibitions,
an amphitheatre by the lake and a number of very interesting ideas
to re-establish cultural links with Europe and China. People will
have an opportunity to prioritise these ideas and to add their own
at the Monday night meeting.
Many
of the people Merrill Findlay interviewed also commented on Council’s
refusal to rejoin the state government supported regional arts organisation
Arts OutWest.
“All
arts practitioners in the shire and those who would like to get
involved in the arts are now disadvantaged because they no longer
have the automatic right to information and support of Arts OutWest
for their cultural activities,” Ms Findlay said. “This
is especially problematic for the schools, for indigenous groups
and for the Forbes Youth Centre and other organisations who could
receive thousands of dollars of financial support for their arts
programs with the help of Arts OutWest.”
One
of the many recommendations in the Cultural Plan is that Council
pay its subscription to rejoin Arts OutWest as a matter of urgency,
and that a Forbes person is nominated for the Board of this regional
arts organisation to ensure that the interests of Forbes artists,
musicians and performers of all ages and all backgrounds are considered.
For
more information, please contact Merrill
Findlay |