New Arts and Culture Trust Board to replace Perth Theatre Trust

The formation of a new Arts and Culture Trust Board for Western Australia marks the start of a new era - moving away from the Perth Theatre Trust (PTT), which was limited to managing theatres.

The new authority will oversee a range of art and cultural assets other than just theatres, and apply a State-wide lens to engagement, business activities and presentation of productions for the arts and the community.

The new Arts and Culture Trust (ACT) and Board will be effective from 1st July 2022 with nine highly regarded industry experts appointed to take on board roles. 

WA Culture and the Arts Minister David Templeman announced the appointments, made under the Arts and Culture Trust Act 2021, as the eight-member Perth Theatre Trust Board nears the end of its run.

For continuity purposes, the ACT Board will have three current Perth Theatre Trust Board members, including nationally recognised award-winning lawyer and founding member of the WA Chamber of Culture and the Arts, Chair Morgan Solomon, taxation specialist and respected business community leader, Michelle Tremain, and civil engineer Nadia van Dommelen who played key roles in large infrastructure projects such as Optus Stadium.

The other appointments are:

• former Screenwest Chair and Community Arts Network non-executive director, strategist Janelle Marr;

• lawyer and Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts and WA Live Events non-executive director Melvin Yeo;

• property, project and infrastructure solutions advisor, accomplished consultant Stuart Bell;

• retired arts manager Shane Colquhoun AM, who was inaugural Chair of Seesaw Magazine and currently sits on the Arts Advisory Committee Winston Churchill Memorial Trust;

• theatre designer Zoe Atkinson, a non-executive director at Black Swan Theatre Company; and

• Michele 'Mitch' Torres, a Djugun, Djabirr Djabirr, Gooniyandi, Walmajarri, Yawuru woman, as well as a trained TV journalist and radio broadcast producer/presenter, television presenter, filmmaker, writer-director/producer and theatrical writer/director.

When the ACT is established on 1st July 2022, the board will be empowered to carry out its functions. A date for the first meeting of the ACT Board is currently being arranged. The Perth Theatre Trust Board met for the last time yesterday (16th June 2022).

Minister Templeman enthused “I am delighted to have appointed such highly credentialed members, which also includes regional representation. I am pleased that Morgan Solomon will continue as Chair to lead the new board on its establishment journey.

"WA's new Arts and Culture Trust legislation requires the appointment of board members with skills and experience relating to the trust's functions such as law, financial management, infrastructure planning, and culture and the arts industry experience. I feel that the nine representatives more than meet those requirements - in my view they exceed expectations.

"The new board takes the work of the trust beyond the brick walls of theatre buildings to all kinds of art and cultural assets, while representing best practice for contemporary policy and governance.

"I look forward to future outcomes under this group's leadership. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the outgoing PTT Board for their dedication and service."

Image: PICA Erin Coates, Kinesphere 2014 Credit Toni Wilkinson. Among the appointments to the new arts and culture trust is lawyer and Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts (PICA) and WA Live Events non-executive director Melvin Yeo.