WAAPA and Perth Theatre Trust join forces with new partnership
A new three-year partnership between Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) and the Perth Theatre Trust was announced on Wednesday.
The agreement will align Western Australia’s premier performing arts venues with the State’s premier performing arts education and training organisation, to create more opportunities within the region’s arts industry.
Covering four major venues managed directly by Perth Theatre Trust – including His Majesty’s Theatre, State Theatre Centre of WA, Subiaco Arts Centre and Albany Entertainment Centre – the agreement meets the training and performance needs of WAAPA students, whilst building future capacity for the Perth Theatre Trust.
WAAPA Executive Director, Professor David Shirley, commented on the partnerships and the opportunities it will present for the arts institution.
“I very much look forward to this partnership and to the many benefits it will bring,” said Shirley.
“One of our aims at WAAPA is to ensure that our students are well equipped and ready for the next stage in their careers and this agreement ensures that this can happen. It is a remarkable opportunity.”
Perth Theatre Trust Chairperson, Morgan Solomon also commended the exciting partnership.
“Perth Theatre Trust is very pleased to be able to work with WAAPA in a way that benefits us all,” said Solomon.
“It’s exciting to welcome the next generation of arts workers and practitioners into our venues.”
The new partnership will see WAAPA stage a major musical, contemporary dance season, third-year student production and the Radioactive program in the specified venues. Culture and the Arts Minister, David Templeman shared his delight in the two organisations joining forces.
“It’s great that two leading WA organisations, aligned to creating exemplary arts experiences are coming together,” Templeman said.
“The State Government is working to support jobs and growth and this partnership will ensure that students will graduate ready for a career in the Western Australian arts industry.”
The new initiative hopes to give students the tools to prepare themselves for a career in the performing arts.
It comes days after the Australian Government announced plans to merge the arts into a super department called the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications.
For more information on either organisation, visit WAAPA’s website or Perth Theatre Trust’s website.
Photography courtesy of Perth Theatre Trust.
