This Week in St Kilda (TWiSK) serves as a local media outlet covering not just St Kilda, but the entire Port Phillip Council. This week TWiSK reported on the Arts Forum hosted by the City of Port Phillip Arts Collective (COPPAC).

Despite 22 candidates in attendance and the critical role of the arts to the future of Port Phillip, I was the only candidate from Montague Ward to speak in relation to the arts. I reinforced my view that the next term of Council is critical to restoring Port Phillip’s previous leadership in the arts and culture.

The current term of Council has simply been too complacent and lacking vision in how Port Phillip can remain the epicentre of Melbourne’s creativity. The fact that several incumbent Councillors chose not to attend reinforces this view.

“The forum reinforced my view that Port Phillip Council has been too complacent for too long. We risk areas like Fishermans Bend becoming sterile localities unless we regain leadership in the arts. The expiry of Council’s Arts Strategy means the next term of Council is crucial to fixing this.”

Read more at: Masterclass in political theatre – TWiSK (gdaystkilda.com.au)