Community arts play a vital role in regional towns and for every visible benefit that art brings to a town there are ones that are far less noticeable. To shine a light on these benefits – seen and unseen – I sat down with Abbie Pedersen, director of the Denmark Arts Council in WA’s Great Southern region, to discuss this important issue.
“The impact of community arts is a long debated topic as it’s a really hard thing to measure,” says Abbie.
“Some people just see it as purely entertainment but others see it as a vital part of our existence. Recording attendance numbers is not enough but thankfully there are studies now emerging showing its deeper importance and significance. There are so many non tangible effects and longevity effects that can’t be measured in a single moment or statistic. It’s the experience of being exposed to art that people remember and that resides with them, affects them, changes them.”
And one of those benefits is the creation of a shared experience which then forms a catalyst for a shared dialogue of current issues that are happening within the community or within the world.
“When people are at the same event or art exhibition opening, for example, everybody’s there looking at the same art and they have a common topic that allows them to connect with each other and that social connection is vital in regional communities. With that social interaction comes the lessening of isolation as art is open to everyone and community arts champions inclusivity.”
Not having to travel to a capital city to be exposed to culture in the arts is a big plus when you live in the country so bringing art to the community expands its accessibility. And you don’t have to be an experienced or award-winning artist to participate in community arts projects. In fact community arts projects are more often than not designed to nurture new and emerging artists by the fostering or provision of skill development opportunities.
Abbie adds that community arts also increases livability of a town because of the connections and opportunities that community arts programs provide for them.
“It’s a joyful experience to be a part of a cultural event and it really does add identity to the town. Community arts breaks down barriers, builds unity in the community and unity builds strength. There’s the cultural significance too of supporting First Nations representation, to share knowledge about place, histories and what’s important to them. Art creates that cultural bridge and facilitates that connection.”
There’s also a significant economic benefit gained from community arts events. Ticket sales, accommodation, eating out, buying petrol and general shopping by artists and visitors brings dollars into a town.
Community arts also promotes interaction with a town’s public spaces and increases participation within a community through celebration and by providing opportunities for play, experimentation and inspiration. Community arts is flexible too; it can broaden its scope to accommodate larger groups through festivals and live concerts, and can then shift its focus to the individual by providing skill development, support and career projection.
Abbie says “art is indispensable to us” and that it offers an escape from reality.
“It’s also a form of self expression providing a platform to voice our feelings, thoughts and identity through. I think art is life; it’s all around us and because it’s everywhere people often become blind to the fact that we all need it.”
Buildings and roads may provide the physical structure of a town but there’s little doubt that community arts is the heartbeat that brings a location to life.
