Performing Lines WA celebrates three years supporting independent artists in WA!

Posted by admin, July 14th, 2011

Words: Fiona de Garis Photos: Sarah Rowbottam

Today’s the day!
Three years ago July 14^th was a Monday.
It was also the day I started a new job.
It was also the day Performing Lines WA was made manifest here at the wonderful Kings St Arts Centre (KSAC).

On this day three years ago, recently retired founder of Performing Lines Wendy Blacklock and I sat in the little empty office kindly given over to our use by Country Arts WA, and I started downloading her brain! So much experience and so much wisdom in Wendy’s head. So little in mine!

That first week went by in a blur of meetings and conversation. The next week I went out and bought furniture and a computer and telephones.

A few weeks ago Performing Lines WA had a birthday party downstairs in the KSAC foyer. Thanks so much to everyone who turned out on a horrendously rainy evening to celebrate our three years supporting independent artists in Western Australia. The party was a little in advance of the actual anniversary so that both my outgoing (Wendy Blacklock) and incoming (Fenn Gordon) bosses could attend during their quick handover trip from Performing Lines’ Sydney HQ. It was lovely to have them with us for the event, and to have the opportunity to officially farewell the amazing and ever generous Wendy.

Recently I have had cause to review data from our first three years running the MAPS (Managing and Producing Services initiative) in WA, and frankly I am boggled at what has been achieved. Fear not! I will not bore you here with the statistics. And I talked much too much at the party about my personal highlights, so I won’t go there either.

But I didn’t say this at the party…should have written better notes… My special thanks to our Communications Manager, Sarah Rowbottam. Sarah joined Performing Lines WA on a short contract to market our first production in February 2009 and has never left. Thanks Sarah. It would have been a very different journey without you at the next desk

I would also like to say a big thank you to all the artists, production and admin staff who have so given so much of themselves to the projects and to Performing Lines WA. And thanks also to the many organisations who have supported us in different and diverse ways. Where we have succeeded it is no small part due to the generous embrace of the sector. Thank you all for your welcome and your patience as we have slowly, slowly unravelled the needs and desires of ‘our’ artists, and worked out where and how we can most effectively assist with the resources we have to hand.

The MAPS initiative is why Performing Lines WA is here. In many ways MAPS was a giant experiment; a chance to explore a new model to support the creation and touring of excellent West Australian independent theatre and contemporary dance. And of course there would be no MAPS at all without the vision and generous support of the State Government of Western Australia through the Department of Culture and the Arts and of the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body. So I thank them and their staff for their great faith, understanding and ongoing encouragement.

It has been a big learning curve and remains an ever challenging mission. Sometimes I do completely despair at the slow pace of getting things done. Watching Sarah’s slideshow of past Performing Lines WA projects at the birthday party reminded me that when we do finally get there, the results generally justify the time and effort expended. Hey ‘our artists’ – you do such good work! Spending time at the party with all the creative and committed people who’ve shared the journey thus far reminded me why we keep trying, and have to keep trying, to get things done.

So here’s to three more years!