Anne Stanley (Werriwa, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It was a pleasure to have hosted an arts round table with the Special Envoy for the Arts, Susan Templeman, the member for Macquarie, at the iconic Casula Powerhouse in Werriwa. It was an opportunity to gather some of the wonderful artists in south-west Sydney and talk about what they'd like to see in an arts policy development. We spoke about the Albanese government's national cultural policy, Revive, and the benefits of finally having the certainty of a national plan for the arts. Other discussions centred around culturally sensitive spaces for creative arts and how the COVID closures are still affecting the ability of artists to earn a living and create. I am a strong advocate for our local artists.

I'd really like to thank Ms Templeman and the Powerhouse for the opportunity to listen to our community. Thank you to all those who participated in the round table: Johnathan Brown from the Liverpool Performing Arts Ensemble, Pam Rodoreda from the Liverpool Art Society, Maryjane from Matavai Pacific Cultural Arts, Randy Glazer from the Street University, Craig Donarski of Casula Powerhouse and Luke Letourneau. The current exhibition, Paradoxes of Paradise, by Creative Hybrids Lab, is showing, and I definitely recommend Bellbird Cafe. The food there is always fantastic, the chef is amazing and the produce is sourced from the garden on site.