Harvey Recreation and Cultural Centre to take part in strengthening audiences for First Nations performances

Harvey is set to host some extraordinary entertainment after being selected to take part in a new consortium.

The Harvey Recreation and Cultural Centre is taking part in a three-year audience development strategy aiming to strengthen audiences for First Nations performances.

Delivered by CircuitWest, the consortium is funded through Creative Australia’s Playing Australia Multi-Year Funding and will see the HRCC collaborate with the Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre, Arts Margaret River and Port Hedland’s Matt Dann Theatre.

Having advocated for Harvey alongside local elder Lesley Ugle, HRCC manager David Marshall said it was exciting and an honour to be selected.

Mr Marshall said the program aimed to encourage audience participation for First Nations shows and bring in high quality performances.

“Over that three years we have to bring at least one nationally touring show and we have to bring at least one State-based West Australian show,” he said.

“Then we might look at localised shows and that sort of stuff with a First Nations theme and we’ll be looking at more opportunities to get more audience involvement.”

Throughout the program, Mr Marshall said the Harvey Aboriginal Corporation would be consulted.

“This is very much a partnership arrangement here for what those artists will be and who they will be and where we will go about it,” he said.

“The other thing we want to do, and are exploring, is some opportunities to run some workshops.

“We’re just bringing people together, just to build relationships, build trust and hopefully extend that into ultimately coming to one of these shows.”

With challenges such as misperceptions or lack of understanding and relationships impacting audience numbers, Mr Marshall said the program would become a national template.

“It’s really just community coming together, breaking down barriers just because we don’t know each other, and ultimately building an audience,” he said.

The program launches in March at the Harvey Dam with Australian entertainer Casey Donovan.

“This is a huge opportunity to launch this program, with a First Nations woman who’s an absolute iconic Australian musician and also has all this advocacy around that,” Mr Marshall said.

Harvey Aboriginal Corporation director Ninnette Comito said the program and Donovan’s performance were exciting and a great opportunity for the community to get together.

She said it was a great way to showcase the skills of First Nations people as well as an amazing form of representation.