Arts take centre stage

By Kelly Yates
ARTS enthusiasts from within the City of Casey gathered for the annual Mayoral Arts Dinner on Monday night.
Around 120 guests, including former Cardinia Shire mayor Bill Ronald, former Casey mayor Janet Halsall and Narre Warren South MP Judith Graley, enjoyed a night of entertainment by local performers Madison Pritchett, Paulo Ungab, Opera singer Shu-Cheen Yu and Jessica-Jade Bruce.
The Lindsay King Arts Initiative Award that recognises significant contribution to the development of arts and culture in the municipality was presented to Max Hunter from Cranbourne Lions Concert Band and Berwick Artists Society’s Tony Purcell.
Both of the award winners are on the Casey Arts and Cultural Reference Group, representing various art groups.
Mayor Geoff Ablett said the award, named in memory of the late Lindsay King, commemorated a vigorous commitment to the arts and the passion for local history, tourism and culture of one man and the positive impact he made on the arts community in Casey.
River Gum ward councillor Wayne Smith dubbed the evening a success.
“It was a great opportunity for the arts community to come together and network,” he said.
“Everyone leaves the event feeling good and happy with the team building then the reality of the poor funding sinks in the following day.”
Cr Smith said the funding and support for the arts in Casey still wasn’t great, but was a lot better than 12 years ago.
“When I first joined the council there was very little support for the arts,” he said.
“People need to remember that for every young boy playing footy he probably has a sister doing ballet. We can’t forget these children.”
Ideas such as a purpose-built gallery to exhibit visual art and a community festival featuring a street parade, concerts and markets were raised at the event, with Cr Smith saying it was projects like these that would put arts on the Casey map.
The Mayoral Arts Dinner has been running since 1999.