The Australian String Academy values the arts in regional areas as vital to the enrichment of Australian culture. We consider it important to establish a regional outreach program that aims to fill the gap in people’s cultural lives due to geographic isolation within Australia.

Since 2005 we have already benefited regional artists, performers and composers, students, teachers, parents, and lastly, audiences. We aim to actively increase the tangible benefits we provide to them through specific projects and initiatives. One example of the ASA’s work in this area is the Central Coast region. ASA has had a particular link to this regional area. Key members of the ASA committees have ties with the Central Coast, and we have taken the opportunity to benefit this specific area since our inception. Despite its relative closeness to Sydney, it is one of the areas that major performing arts companies do not tour at regularly. We wish to increase our benefit to this region through the implementation of this program.

A clear case of this is the Crossroads Festival, established in 2008. This will be an unprecedented event that will exceptionally benefit the region’s arts and community. More information can be seen here. Other examples of our past regional outreach include the work in our summer education programs in 2005 and 2006, specifically assisting students in remote areas such as Townsville, QLD.

Regional institutions are another part of the program’s focus. It is the work of regional conservatoriums that enables students to have music education that they would not otherwise have easy access to. They are part of the backbone of Australia’s music education, and we see it as very important to support them through a range of initiatives and projects.

Disadvantages that we have identified in regional areas due to isolation include:

• Less, or lack of, access to high quality music and cultural events.
  
• Restricted access to teachers and high quality training in the arts.
  
• Reduced support for, and awareness of, the arts in the local community.
  
• Lack of stimulation and opportunities for students training in the arts.
  
• Lack of competition for students when away from the city environment, different atmosphere and surroundings.
  

We aim to help overcome these difficulties in regional areas through initiatives and objectives such as:

• Scholarships to ASA educational programs for students from regional areas.
  
• Special career opportunities aimed specifically at students from regional areas. This may include objectives from our Young Artist Career Development Program.
  
• Identifying gifted students and helping them to achieve their goals with networking.
  
• Bringing music and cultural enrichment to communities that normally have little access to.
  
• Making inroads in regional communities by bringing new opportunities and inspirational activities.