Annual Report 2011 - Sydney Opera House

36community engagement and aCCessimagination lives insidecommunity Outreach and ParticipationOverview > Sydney Opera House’scommitment to providing an ‘Open House’for all continued this year with Open Dayheld on 24 October 2010. The day receivedsignificant media coverage and some18,000 people participated in a range offree activities onsite, including backstagetours, live performances and lightingdemonstrations. The inaugural AustralianHeritage Week was celebrated withDiscovery Day in April 2011. A $20,000grant from the Department of Sustainability,Environment, Water, Population andCommunities enabled 1,200 people toexperience The Essential Tour free ofcharge and celebrate Sydney Opera House’scontribution to Australia’s heritage.Sydney Opera House is committed tobridging the gap between Aboriginaland Torres Strait Islander Australiansand fellow Australians and in May 2011unveiled its first Reconciliation ActionPlan (RAP). The RAP expands on existingrelationships and programs, such as theMessage Sticks Festival and IndigenousTraineeship Program, with actions andtargets focused on building relationships,artistic content, audience participation,cultural awareness, education andemployment opportunities. With aworking group and staff RAP ambassadorsin place, a number of initiatives havealready commenced and will continueto be delivered next year (p.107).Reaching out to young people andencouraging long-term engagement in thearts remains a key goal for Sydney OperaHouse. A pilot work experience programwas held onsite in November 2010 forthree students from schools in WesternSydney. Students gained an understandingof the theatre and entertainment industryand its networks, enabling them to explorefuture employment opportunities. Theprogram will provide work experience for12 Indigenous students next year.A program for young people transitioningfrom Juvenile Justice through engagementwith the arts commenced this year andwill continue in 2011/12. Funded bythe NSW Minister for Juvenile Justicein 2010, the program was developedin partnership with NSW communitymentoring organisation Whitelion,Blacktown Arts Centre, Joan SutherlandPerforming Arts Centre, CampbelltownArts Centre, Street University – Ted NoffsFoundation and artist Candy Bowers. Theprogram builds on the 2010 pilot Detoursand Destinations, which was developedand implemented in partnership withShopfront contemporary arts centre andHeaps Decent.Strengthening community access is afunding priority for Sydney Opera House.The Arts Assist program enabled 2,559students from NSW Priority FundedSchools to access performances this year,and Sydney Opera House celebrated amilestone in November 2010 with the10,000th child under this programattending a House:Ed performance ofThe Man Who Planted Trees.In May 2011 a music workshop was hostedfor 20 students from Canterbury BoysHigh School, led by acclaimed US groupHypnotic Brass Ensemble, followed by atour of the building. Projects such as thesewill continue to be developed next year inpartnership with Sydney Opera House’seducation department.Challenges > Open Day – As the largestfree event onsite, Open Day providesthousands of people with access tobackstage areas normally closed to thepublic. Ensuring a truly memorableexperience for everyone requirescoordination of various activities, madeeven more challenging this year withconsistent rain throughout the day.Improvements to crowd management,online registration for tours, and thecommitment of staff and volunteersensured better flow of crowds throughthe building and across the site.The Future > + Work experience programfor Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islandersecondary students (2011/12). + In theHouse youth engagement program tocontinue with workshops, work experienceand mentoring opportunities (2011/12).+ Indigenous school based apprenticeshipsprogram developed (2011/12). + Fundingcampaigns to support youth access toSydney Opera House performances tocontinue (2011/12).