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Government of Western AustraliaDepartment of Culture and the Arts

Young People and the Arts Action Plan

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Introduction

In 1997 the Department of Culture and the Arts (the Department) launched the nation’s first government arts policy for young people. The Young People and the Arts Policy was developed with the rationale:

that all young people in Western Australia have access to the arts regardless of their economic, social, cultural or geographic circumstances.

This approach was crucial to improving young people’s access to major arts organisations and established activities, and provided greater support in a way that had not previously been possible. The new policy introduced a panel of young peers to assess funding applications by, with and for young people, and provided support for organisations who make and present work for young audiences.

Since then, the Young People and the Arts sector has changed significantly. These changes include the emergence of national programs for young and

emerging artists such as those delivered by the Australia Council for the Arts; the establishment of Propel Youth Arts WA and the evolution of Young People and the Arts Australia. The digital landscape continues to offer new technologies, multiple platforms and ever increasing opportunities to engage with other artists and communities on a daily basis. It is also significant that since the policy was released in 1997, an entire generation of young people has been born.

Between 2007 and 2010 the Department undertook targeted research and consultation with the Young People and the Arts sector, including a Visioning Day with young and emerging artists and involvement of young artists during the development of the Department’s policy framework, Creating Value: An Arts and Culture Sector Policy Framework 2010–2014.

The results of this activity have been distilled into the new actions to be delivered by the Department’s Young People and the Arts Education program area. The Action Plan targets young people aged 26 years and under and identifies the importance of assisting young and emerging artists to transition through the program into other pathways as their practice develops.

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An Action Plan for Young People and the ArtsThe Young People and the Arts Action Plan 2011–2012 will be delivered primarily through the Department’s Young People and the Arts and Education team. The Plan will be complemented by projects and programs from other areas of the Department with input from the team, as well as partnerships with arts organisations and other government agencies.

The Action Plan contributes to the Department’s vision that:

“The Western Australian community is enriched by unique and transforming culture and arts experiences.”

It will contribute to the Department’s delivery of Creating Value: An Arts and Culture Sector Policy Framework 2010–2014. Creating Value outlines the principles, outcomes and strategies that will guide the activities of the Department for the next four years, as summarised in the diagram below.

At the core of Creating Value is the concept of ‘public value’; in this context referring to the social and economic benefits created by arts and culture for the Western Australian community. Underpinning the delivery of the Department’s public value outcomes are the two core principles of Creativity and Engagement.

For further information on Creating Value: An Arts and Culture Sector Policy Framework 2010–2014, visit the Department’s website, www.dca.wa.gov.au/Creating_Value

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The Department of Culture and the Arts Sector Policy Framework

Outcome Areas

Strategies

Publ

ic Value Principles

Creative

P eo ple

Creative

Econ o mies

Creative

Com m u niti

es

Creative

En viro n m ent

s

Creativity

Engagement

C1 C2

C3 C4

P1

P2

S2 Partnerships

S3 InfrastructureSupport

S4 SectorDevelopment

S1 Funding

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Young People and the Arts Principles In addition to Creating Value’s core principles of Creativity and Engagement, three additional principles will direct the Young People and the Arts Action Plan 2011–2012:

1. Ownership Successful arts programs for young people and emerging creative practitioners are distinguished by empowered engagement in, and ownership of, the activity, with strong elements of participative creative practice, creative risk-taking and/or experimentation.

Direct consultation with, and/or involvement of, young people and their support networks can significantly contribute to success.

2. Flexibility and responsiveness

In support of the ‘on-demand’ culture, diversity and changing needs of young people.

3. The importance of networks

Families, care-givers, peers, mentors, educators and/or organisations all contribute significantly to the lives of young people.

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Scope

The Young People and the Arts Action Plan 2011–2012 ultimately supports the creativity and engagement of Western Australians aged 26 and under. Within this, and recognising the diverse needs and aspirations of the Young People and the Arts sector, the Action Plan aims to support three broad interest groups:

1. Young artists and arts workers

Supporting young, independent artists and arts workers aged 26 and under to create and/or deliver distinctive and enriching artistic processes and products.

2. Children and young people and their support networks

Supporting children and young people’s participation in, and access to, unique and transforming arts experiences that support creative endeavour and engagement.

The ever-changing needs, knowledge and aspirations of young people, as they gain in both age and experience, requires initiatives for specific subsectors, such as Early Childhood.

3. The Young People and the Arts sector

Supporting arts organisations and independent arts workers to deliver (or support the delivery of) distinctive and enriching arts programs by, with and for young people, that are recognised locally, nationally and internationally.

ReportingProgress in delivering this Action Plan will be incorporated into reporting on the Creating Value policy framework and also summarised in the Department’s annual report.

As actions progress and are reviewed and evaluated, a new Young People and the Arts Action Plan for 2013–2014 will be developed, alongside the Department’s broader delivery on Creating Value for that period.

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Outcome Areas and Actions

The priority actions for Young People and the Arts for 2011–2012 are grouped under the four outcomes areas identified in Creating Value: Creative People, Creative Communities, Creative Economies and Creative Environments. Each action aims to address one or more of the priorities identified in Creating Value, and will be delivered through one or a combination of the following strategies: Funding,

Partnerships, Infrastructure Support, Sector Development.

The Young People and the Arts and Education program area will also participate in the Department’s broader priority projects and initiatives for 2011–2012. These projects include the Funding Process Review, Ecology Mapping Project and the development of a Cultural Infrastructure Plan for Western Australia, as outlined in Creating Value.

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Outcome Area

Creative PeopleThe following Creating Value priorities will provide the focus for Young People and the Arts actions in the Creative People outcome area:

Models of funding and evaluation that deliver support and skills enhancement for the whole-of-life of professional artists and culture and arts organisations across the State.

Programs that are relevant to professional contemporary culture and arts practice.

Strengthening networks and supporting knowledge sharing, enabling individuals and organisations to collaborate and build on one another’s experiences.

Promoting the public value created by practitioners in the culture and arts sector.

Actions Fund

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Include the Young People and the Arts Grants Program in the Department’s Funding Process Review.

X

Establish a round table of arts organisations working by, with and for young people to enhance cross-sector communication and inform review and development of initiatives and resources.

X

Partner with the arts sector to support: knowledge-sharing of international best practice and innovation in the area of young people and the arts;

creative skills development of people working with and for young people across art forms; and

development of new skills and opportunities for audience engagement locally, nationally and internationally.

X X

Support the 2010–2011 Jump Mentoring funding program, managed by Propel Youth Arts WA in partnership with Youth Arts Queensland.

X X

Scope and identify ways to best support mentoring and skills development for young artists and arts workers located in regional WA, including young Indigenous artists.

X X

Support opportunities for young artists and arts workers to grow their practice through the Young People and the Arts Fellowship grants program.

X

Pursue opportunities to apply new technologies for presenting, creating and distributing culture and arts content.

X X X

Support the provision of specialist arts education for outstanding young artists and arts workers through the Young People and the Arts International Scholarship Program.

X

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Outcome Area

Creative CommunitiesThe following Creating Value priorities will provide the focus for Young People and the Arts actions in the Creative Communities outcome area:

Delivery of culture and arts programs relevant to diverse WA communities.

Engage with the WA community in setting priorities for culture and arts policy.

Supporting strong communities through innovative artistic engagement.

Seek partnerships with the non-arts sector to broaden the creation and delivery of culture and arts experiences.

Actions Fund

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Support the creation and delivery of art by, with and for young people through the following funding programs:

Young People and the Arts Multi-Year and Triennial Funding for Young People and the Arts organisations

Arts Development Indigenous Arts

X X X

Partner with the arts, community and government sectors to better inform and promote children and young people’s access to and participation in the arts.

X X

Develop a strategy for the Arts and Early Childhood in WA. X X

Implement the Artist-in-Residence (AIR) funding program in schools in partnership with the Department of Education and the Australia Council for the Arts.

X X X

Deliver the strategies and objectives of Creative Connections: An Arts in Education Partnership Framework in partnership with the Department of Education.

X X

Provide support to access Royalties for Regions funds for cultural projects. X

Continue to support the development of the National Arts Curriculum. X X X

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Outcome Area

Creative EconomyThe following Creating Value priorities will provide the focus for Young People and the Arts actions in the Creative Economy outcome area:

Support the creation, protection and distribution of marketable intellectual property.

Support practitioners to respond to the changing needs of the creative economy.

Actions Fund

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Conduct a map and gap analysis to identify entrepreneurial, development and financial support opportunities for young artists and arts workers wanting to expand the business side of their practice.

X X X X

Continue to cultivate WA’s unique Designer Fashion sector through the provision of support for young designers through the Department’s Designer Fashion Grants Program as well as the Young People and the Arts Grants Program.

X X

Continue to provide support for young individual musicians, producers, arts workers, groups and organisations via the Contemporary Music Grants Program and the Young People and the Arts Grants Program.

X

Promote greater understanding of, and interaction between the subsidised and commercial sectors by providing support for young artists and organisations working by, with, or for young people to access X-Media Lab.

X

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Outcome Area

Creative EnvironmentsThe following Creating Value priorities will provide the focus for Young People and the Arts actions in the Creative Environments outcome area:

Support for a range of suitable, affordable, professional and community culture and arts spaces for the creation, showcasing, preservation, sharing and distribution of work.

Support for hubs of activity to generate critical mass and strengthen the position of culture and the arts in the community.

Activities that creatively interpret real and virtual public spaces, places and collections.

Mapping of the cultural ecology of the State.

Integration of culture and arts into urban planning.

Actions Fund

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Participate in the development of the Department’s Cultural Infrastructure Plan and Ecology Mapping Project, looking at the hard and soft infrastructure needs of the Young People and the Arts sector.

X X

Investigate existing youth arts spaces and clusters to identify innovation, best practice and potential gaps in the realm of creative spaces and places for young people.

X X

Partner with the arts, government and community sectors to showcase success and inspire innovation and best practice in the provision of spaces and places that boost young people’s creativity and connection with their community.

X X

Contribute to the development and activation of the Perth Cultural Centre in partnership with East Perth Redevelopment Authority.

X

Continue the Department’s involvement in the State Graffiti Taskforce, including the Urban Art Sub-Committee.

X X

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Contact

If you would like to know more about the Young People and the Arts Action Plan, or to learn more about particular actions as they are developed and delivered please contact:

Senior Policy Officer Young People and the Arts

(08) 9224 7310

1800 199 090 (toll free country WA only)

youngpeople@dca.wa.gov.au

www.dca.wa.gov.au

Assistance for People with DisabilitiesThe Department is committed to supporting applicants with disabilities.

Information can be provided in alternative formats (large print, electronic or Braille) upon request. If you require special assistance in preparing your application, please contact the Department.

Family, friends and/or carers can attend meetings with you.

Contact the Department on (08) 9224 7310 or 1800 199 090 (toll free country WA callers) or info@dca.wa.gov.au

Interpreting Assistance in Languages Other Than EnglishContact the Department if you have difficulty understanding this booklet.

Alternatively, you can telephone the Translating and Interpreting Service on 13 14 50 during business hours (9am - 5pm Monday to Friday) for the cost of a local call. Indicate which language you wish to use and ask to speak to the Senior Policy Officer, Young People and the Arts on 9224 7310.

Contact the Department if you would like any part of the booklet interpreted into Kriol.

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