Funding boost for new festival

By Ashleigh Fielding | posted on January 10, 2018

THE new Albany Arts Festival Season has received a helping hand from the State Government for its inaugural program that kicks off next month.

As revealed by The Weekender in December, the Albany Arts Festival will be held over three months and will incorporate local, national and international arts acts to fill the void left by the Perth International Arts Festival’s exit from the Great Southern.

On a quick visit to the Albany Entertainment Centre, Minister for Regional Development Alannah MacTiernan said a modest $15,000 would be granted to the festival via the Great Southern Development Commission, with the aim of driving economic development and local job creation.

“This is world-class stuff we have here,” Ms MacTiernan said of the festival line-up.

“The festival will have things we don’t normally see in Albany, and be an important part of economic and social stimulus, as a tourism attractor.

“It will add to Albany’s rich tapestry and make a fantastic addition to the Great Southern.”

Both Ms MacTiernan and member for Albany Peter Watson were enthusiastic about the arts festival, and urged the University of Western Australia, the founder of the Perth International Arts Festival, to reconsider their move to not be involved in the event.

“The State Government did support the new Wave Energy Research Centre [new UWA Albany campus resource] with a lot of funding, so we are pushing for UWA to revisit their decision,” Ms MacTiernan said.

The Albany Arts Festival will commence in February and run until April.

Tickets for the range of performances and a list of the acts are available online at albanyentertainment.com.au.