FOR more than 40 years, Perth resident Shane Colquhoun has steered the arts industry into the future by managing artists and leading the move of Black Swan Theatre Company to the State Theatre Centre.
Mr Colquhoun will be appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) this year for his significant service to performing and cultural arts administration.
He is a board member at the Chamber of Arts and Culture WA and a board member and chair of The Blue Room Theatre.
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READ NOWThe former ballet dancer’s resume includes him being the general manager of the Black Swan State Theatre Company, vice-chairman of Country Arts WA, lecturer at the WA Academy of Performing Arts, Ausdance national president, WA president and life member, West Australian Ballet general manager, WA’s Department of Culture and the Arts funding and development director and a ministerial policy advisor.
Prior to his work in administration, he studied at the Royal Ballet School in London and went onto dance in London and Berlin before coming back to West Australian Ballet.
He said it was a great honour to be appointed as an AM.
“Of the 50 people in WA, I think there were only a few in the arts,” he said.
“It is nice for the arts in WA to be recognised.“It is also nice to be acknowledged for the work that I have done over the last 40 years.
“I guess some of the highlights would be the move of Black Swan State Theatre Company into the State Theatre Centre; that was a major challenge for both the company and for the state.”
He said he loved providing support to artists and arts projects and mentoring other managers.
“I think being an artist and dancer helps you be the best arts manager you can be,” he said.
He said while the arts industry in WA was challenging, people were doing a great job.
“I think because of our isolation, we have always had a significant arts industry here in WA,” he said.
“We have an awesome ballet company, we have produced some amazing writers and visual arts.
“I think we punch way above our weight in terms of nationally.
“We are always trying to promote the value of arts and culture to our community.
“I think more and more people are understanding the arts are part of their everyday life.”