Galleries reach for new audience

The Bunbury Regional Art Galleries is reaching out to disadvantaged sectors of the community after receiving a $15,000 grant from Country Arts WA.

The South West Arts Access Project will include art appreciation workshops, bus tours across the region and provide the community with diversified opportunities to engage in the arts.

‘‘While this program will be aimed at the broad community, we are aware some sectors of the community experience different inhibitors when trying to access arts and community programs,’’ audience development officer Kelly Jennings said.

Ms Jennings said the galleries planned to network with a wide variety of organisations to ensure participation by youth, seniors, people with disabilities, indigenous people and people from non-English-speaking backgrounds.

‘‘The South West Arts Access Project has been developed to create a series of entry-level visual arts experiences for new audiences and participants in the arts,’’ Ms Jennings said.

‘‘Priorities of the program will be inclusion and genuine accessibility for all residents of the South West and we aim to achieve this by having a wider selection of workshops available, collaborating with a variety of community groups and offering subsidised spaces to these groups where possible.’’