By Carla Gorton
Where do you find a Symphony Orchestra member and a Save our School campaign activist side by side in a training course?
These are just some of the broad range of students involved in the new graduate diploma in Community Cultural Development offered by CANtrain SA, an initiative of the Community Arts Network of South Australia.
Community arts is about members of the community working in partnership with community artists, project workers and organisations to express their collective experiences, using art forms such as painting, theatre, radio, television, crafts, dance, writing and music.
The graduate diploma, which focuses upon community-based arts practice, has had a successful first year in operation. Course coordinator Sheila Brown told Green Left Weekly, "Students involved in the first intake are excited and challenged by the course and the opportunities presented to them in becoming active and valued members of their communities and workplaces".
The graduate diploma course is designed for artists and community workers who have relevant life experience or qualifications in creative arts, recreation, social or community work. The course is part-time, making it accessible to people who have work or family commitments and can be attended by contact or through a distance education program.
Applications for 1997 close December 16, 1996. Further information is available from Sheila Brown, ph: (08) 8232 4343 or SA country free call 1800-245-678.