Arts balloon to kick away the blues

MORE than 60 creative and artistic activities took place across the municipality during the Casey Winter Arts Program which finished on 31 July.
Last year the City of Casey joined forces with the VicHealth Localities Enhancing Arts Participation program to launch the Casey Arts Participation Initiative (CAPI) which meant the 2011 Winter Arts Program – the 10th year of the program – was the biggest it’s been.
During the year, 44 events were hosted by artists and art groups in the community and the City of Casey provided an additional 22 free and low cost activities in the areas of community celebration, community arts project and Winter Arts for Casey Kids.
More than 1000 kids participate in nine of the Winter Arts for Casey Kids workshops including cartooning, jewellery making, magic, ballooning, animal mask making, face painting, Bollywood dancing, African drumming and circus workshops.
There was also plenty for grown-ups and arts connoisseurs including the Casey Fine Arts Expo, Casey Dances, professional productions Men of Steel and The Merger and many hands-on workshops.
City of Casey Mayor Shar Balmes said that the hundreds of people who participated in the program were an example of how the power of the art could bring communities together.
“Creating opportunities for artists and increasing arts participation in our community are key objectives of council.
“To this end the Casey Winter Arts Program is such an important part of our cultural calendar,” Cr Balmes said.
“Now in its 10th year, the Winter Arts Program provided a chance to let art bring the colour into our lives, while the sun is off duty, and let art kick the winter blues.”