Today, Culture and the Arts Minister, the Hon David Templeman announced Philippa Maughan as the winner of the People’s Pinnacle Award.
The People’s Pinnacle is an award for an individual or organisation that has made an outstanding contribution to the development of the West Australian performing arts sector.
This year’s recipient of the People’s Pinnacle was selected by the 2019 winners of the three Pinnacle Award categories.
Philippa was chosen for her great commitment to the development and delivery of touring across the State. She is a great supporter of independent artists and has spent years developing community presenters across the state and ensuring that even small regional communities have access to performing arts work.
She has passionately advocated for regional communities’ access to the live performance they want, no matter how remote or how small the community.
Philippa was the driving force behind Sand Tracks, the hugely successful contemporary music touring initiative that since 2009 has teamed a renowned Aboriginal headline act with a young Aboriginal band from central Australia as the support act.
Her commitment to growing performing arts presenting across Western Australia has seen her develop a life-size board game, Game of Roads, a learning resource to encourage new presenters to experience the challenges and delights of presenting shows in their community.
For a long time, Philippa was the West Australian representative in the Blue Heelers – a national group that convened ‘Long Paddock’, which was for many years the only national arts platform for producers to showcase work to presenters.
According to award convenor CircuitWest Executive Director of Ryan Taaffe, Philippa will be a popular choice.
“Philippa has constantly strived for success for producers and presenters especially in the regions and she is a deserving winner, bringing so much to the arts table,” he said.
The presentation of the awards was made at WA Showcase on 11 November at the Subiaco Arts Centre.