Four regional shires funded to develop or implement creative and cultural plans

Feb 16, 2022, 13:23 PM

The Shires of Pingelly, Harvey, Augusta-Margaret River and Morawa have each been awarded between $25,000 and $50,000 as part of the State Government's $20 million four-year Regional Arts and Cultural Investment Program (RACIP).

RACIP's Leveraged Creative and Cultural Planning Program funds regional local governments to develop creative and cultural plans and implementation of activities. Projects promote the value of arts, culture and heritage and facilitate activities that foster regional creative and cultural industries.

Launched by the State Government in 2019, the RACIP acknowledges the importance of culture and arts programs in regional and remote Western Australia. It continues to focus on delivering social inclusion, accessibility and employment opportunities in regional WA — receiving an additional $5 million in the 2021 State Budget to extend the program.

Funded projects include:

  • Shire of Pingelly — $50,000 to develop the Pingelly Arts and Culture Plan, partnering with arts, crafts and cultural groups to form a cohesive vision that reflects the local community. The Plan encourages artists to engage in their activities, promote arts engagement, attract tourists, develop business plans for community arts groups and create employment opportunities in the Wheatbelt.     
  • Shire of Augusta-Margaret River — $25,000 to implement an activity identified in their Creative Culture Plan 2020-25 under Goal 2 — Create sustainable cultural infrastructure and opportunities. This will include developing an interactive public art trail in the South West, with several smaller interactive art walks in designated sites, like town centres and coastal areas.

Further to this, the Shire of Harvey ($48,450) will develop a Creative Communities Strategy and the Shire of Morawa ($20,000) will develop a Morawa Culture and Arts Plan. 

The RACIP is delivered by the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries (DLGSC, with funding from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development). Since 2019 the RACIP has injected almost $13 million into arts and culture in regional and remote WA.