A new arts for health program is breaking new ground for Australia, bringing the arts to more people from diverse communities across the City of Casey.
“The Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth) has funded the City of Casey $600,000 over three years to implement the ambitious and innovative program called Localities Enhancing Arts Participation, or LEAP for short,” said VicHealth CEO Todd Harper.
“From new technologies to cooperation between arts bodies, workplaces and sports, this program is state of the art,” Mr Harper said.
‘In an Australian first, the City of Casey will work with the community to identify the types of arts facilities and programs required to meet the needs of our growing population.
‘Much like our award-winning Leisure Facilities & Development Plan, which maps out the future provision of sports and leisure facilities and programs in Casey, Council will consult with arts groups to research and document Casey’s arts needs.
‘In Casey, the initiative will be called the Casey Arts Participation Initiative (CAPI) and will ensure that people from all cultural backgrounds, ages, and walks of life have a chance to become more socially connected and have improved health and wellbeing by participating in new arts activities.
“As the City of Casey is Victoria’s largest municipality and the dominant growth area of Melbourne’s south east, we need to know what our communities need in terms of arts and social connection,” Cr Ablett said.
“The 2,2 million dollar arts-funding program is aiming to breathe new life into local communities in three significant areas across Victoria, the regions of Mildura, Ballarat and the City of Casey in south east Melbourne”, said VicHealth Chief Executive Officer Todd Harper.
“The Cities of Mildura, Ballarat and Casey are breaking new ground in Australia, making sure that their communities get the best chances to participate in arts activities.
“Evidence shows that when community participation in social and arts activity is high, there is reduced crime, increased employment rates and enhanced educational performance.
“Arts participation is linked to social, cultural and economic benefit to local communities.
“There is also strong evidence that mental health and wellbeing is improved amongst individuals who participate in social networks and activities in the arts like singing, music, dancing or theatre groups,” Mr Harper said.
“The City of Casey recently won a Parks and Leisure Australia Award for Excellence for Council’s Leisure Facilities & Development Plan which, based on extensive community consultation and research, identifies the sporting needs of our community and provides a blueprint for the future provision of sporting facilities and sports development opportunities in Casey,” Cr Ablett said.
“We will be attempting to replicate this successful model and outcome in the arts.
“We will be working with local arts groups and a range of organisations like disability arts group Arts Access Victoria and State Government Neighbourhood Renewal Programs to ensure our communities can participate in arts activities, in turn, improving overall health and wellbeing,” Cr Ablett said.
The City of Casey will work with VicHealth and the School of Population Health at the University of Melbourne on a ground-breaking study to design, record and evaluate, over a three year period, the benefits that participating in the arts have on health.