Top prizes for Denmark arts leader and woman behind WA forest walk
Fiona Sinclair, the West Australian woman behind one of Australia's most outstanding outdoor sculpture experiences - the Southern Forest Sculpture Walk - has received top honours at Country Arts WA's recent conference in Denmark in the State's south west.
Sinclair, who was awarded the State Regional Arts Conference prize, led a community group that created the 1.2 kilometre forest installation trail near Northcliffe. The stunning trail is a sensory experience that also includes music, poetry and story-telling. The sculptural works have been created by artists from around the world.
"Fiona led a community group that created a truly great natural forest installation," says Andy Farrant, CEO of Country Arts WA. "The effect of that work has been to bring the people of Northcliffe much closer together. The word is also spreading that the walk is a 'must-see' for visitors to the south west. It is becoming a real cultural and tourist asset."
Also awarded the State Regional Arts Conference prize was André Style who helped to establish Denmark's popular Arts Market. Thousands of visitors are drawn to Denmark for the market which gives artists the chance to show and - importantly - sell their work. Style also began the Easter art program Brave New Works, a community arts festival. Andy Farrant says André Styles has been an enormously important figure in Denmark for the past 25 years. "He is a real mover and shaker - a first-class organiser. And one of the strengths of Andre is that he never repeats a great creative idea. There's always something new," Farrant says.
Both prizes were presented by the CEO of the Australia Council, Kathy Keele.
Further information on the Southern Forest Sculpture Walk: www.northcliffe.org.au/Sculpture%20walk/Sculpturehome.htm
