Western Australian Government to develop arts links with South East Asia

The Western Australian Government has established an artist exchange program where members of WA’s creative industries will be able to visit and carry out their work in South East Asia.The exchange program was announced today by Culture and the Arts Minister David Templeman.

Minister Templeman visited South East Asia last month to foster links and promote WA cultural initiatives as part of the WA Government’s Asian engagement strategy.

He met with arts and culture organisations in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia to finalise details of the artist exchange program, which will also see artists from those countries spend time in Western Australia.

The $150,000 program is due to start in 2019-20 and will be promoted to WA artists and creatives in collaboration with partner agencies in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia.

“Exchange programs such as this are great vehicles to foster cultural ties with our near neighbours in South East Asia,” said Minister Templeman.

“This program will enable WA artists and artists from the Asian region to collaborate and create across a range of art forms which include theatre, writing, visual arts and contemporary dance.

“Increasing our cultural and arts ties with Asia is part of the WA Government’s wider goal to collaborate with international partners and make WA a world-class culture and arts tourism destination.”

“The McGowan Government places great value on the relationships that Western Australia has in South East Asia,” said Asian Engagement Minister Peter Tinley.

“A main focus of the Asian Engagement portfolio is looking for opportunities to strengthen not only political and economic relationships in the region, but also to continue to build cultural ties through exchange programs like the one announced today.

“I look forward to seeing the artistic creativity that will be driven by this unique opportunity for collaboration with our Asian neighbours.”

Image courtesy of Perth Theatre Trust