Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre [BREC] employs Capel artist and Perth Festival Lab 2021 graduate Nathan Gardiner as In House Artist.
BREC is proud to contribute to the thriving arts scene in the South West by facilitating participation in the arts. With support from the State Government of Western Australia, BREC has the revolutionary opportunity to employ a local artist.
According to Australia Council research, the average income received by Australian artists for their creative work alone is well below the poverty at just $18,100.
Nathan was heavily impacted by COVID, losing contracts and income from various projects. We are thrilled that as BREC’s In House Artist Nathan is provided stable, creative employment along with opportunities to increase his professional network.
BREC has been working with Nathan Gardiner over the last two years, including as Co-facilitator of BREC Young Voices – an innovative pilot program engaging young people from the Bunbury Geographe region in the arts.
“I anticipate huge benefit to BREC from having Nathan’s creative voice participating in conversations from strategic planning to programming.” said BREC’s Executive Director Fiona de Garis. ”Employing an In House Artist also establishes BREC as a regional leader in arts practice development. It is critical we continue to address the need to build new pathways for sustainable creative careers right here in the South West”
Nathan Gardiner’s appointment as BREC’s In House Artist has opened other doors for him to expand his practice. Recommendations from BREC led to his participation in the Perth Festival Lab. While at the Lab he was engaged by Awesome Festival to run this year’s Creative Challenge program for primary school students in the remote communities of Nullagine, Yandeyarra and Marble Bar.
“Working as an artist at BREC has been a long held dream. It has such a fabulous facilities and is an incredibly important community space where creativity, imagination entertainment and ideas can meet. I am enjoying working with the team to find even more ways to make BREC accessible for all”. We can’t wait to see what else Nathan achieves, watch this space.
