End of era as arts centre evolves

With the disbandment of the centre committee pending, the shire says it is a step forward.

The corporate and community services committee agreed unanimously at its September 18 meeting to allow the committee, made up of two shire councillors, two Ministry for Education representatives and two community representatives, to disband before the contract runs out in 2015.

Acting as a representative for the Minister, Kalamunda High School approached the shire about discontinuing the committee.

Shire chief executive Rhonda Hardy said the centre had evolved from a ‘hall for hire’ to a legitimate performing arts centre.

‘The role of the committee was to generate ideas to maximise the use of the total complex by the community while at the same time facilitating use by the Kalamunda Senior High School,’ she said.

She said the centre has had two staff handling administration duties.

‘For the past five years, the key focus for the shire-funded administrator role has been to enhance the usage, manage the operations and promote the centre,’ she said.

‘Over the past two years, the shire has experienced significant growth in participation in many of the performances. The Morning Music series now has a full house every month.’

Shire President Sue Bilich, who was one of the committee members, said she looked forward to continuing to support the centre’s shows.

Ms Hardy said a Friends of the Theatre was being developed to ensure that members of the community had a role in the operation of the centre.