Penrith Performing & Visual Arts to partner with Celestino
working together to develop Western Sydney through creativity
Following a successful pilot investment in 2015 which enabled 150 students from economically disadvantaged areas to experience an exceptional international dance theatre performance live at The Joan, Celestino and Penrith Performing & Visual Arts (PP&VA) are proud to announce a new, future-facing partnership that sees both parties deepen a commitment to developing Western Sydney through creativity.
Building on a platform of shared goals and a mutual desire to work cooperatively for the benefit of the Western Sydney region, the partnership will enable advancement across several key areas of activity. These include:
Ensemble Program – As Penrith Conservatorium of Music’s inaugural Ensembles partner, Celestino will assist in building a growing pool of young musicians with new skills in performance. This in turn builds on Penrith and Western Sydney’s reputation as the heart of young musical endeavour.
Access opportunities for students will be provided through subsidised tickets for over 200 students across Western Sydney schools. As well as providing transformational creative experiences for students, this support also enables PP&VA to keep programming the highest quality performances which embed a love of theatre in young audiences.
Attention will also be turned to activating spaces. Celestino and PP&VA will work together to build a new sense of destination and the kernel of a Creative Penrith brand through Friday Night Lights at The Joan – a place where the artists are talented locals across all musical genres and the food and drink offers focus on local growers and makers.
The partners are also exploring further opportunities linking arts and science, including support for Gravity (and Wonder), a joint visual and performing arts project currently in development by the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences and PP&VA and involving the Western Sydney University which will be delivered at Penrith Regional Gallery, the Joan and the Observatory at the Kingswood campus later this year.
Celestino’s CEO John Vassallo, a long-time supporter of visionary projects, said “This partnership underscores Celestino’s firmly held desire to offer a raft of great cultural opportunities to the local community. We are thrilled to continue our work with PP&VA – our partner in creativity.”
PP&VA’s CEO, Hania Radvan, is optimistic the partnership marks the beginning of a long-term relationship that will advance PP&VA’s work to build audiences and creative capacity in Western Sydney now and into the future.
