Pride  WA have announced that they have received  a  $227,500  grant  from Lotterywest.  The  formal announcement will be made tonight at the gala launch of Pridefest 2013: Rainbow  Nation.

The  grant  is  a  significant  boost  to  its  efforts  to  stage  an  exciting  calendar  of  events  for  2013/14  and re-build  the  future  capacity  of  the  organisation  beyond  2014.

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Pride WA Co-President Michelle Rigg said the confirmation of increased financial support from Lotterywest this year was a significant milestone  in  the organisation’s history.

“Pride WA and the community at large will benefit  greatly from this funding and it is clear that the organisation has now turned a corner on its journey to establishing a re-vitalised focus for the organisation as we approach next year’s staging  of the 25th annual Pride  Parade,” Ms Rigg said in a statement.

Ms Rigg outlined that the funding would be applied to two key areas over the next 12 month period. The organisation will undertake a comprehensive strategic review aimed at clarifying the organisations purpose and improving it’s sustainability. Secondly, the funding will be applied to staging a program of events and services that reflect the needs of the Pride community.

Co-President  Daniel  Smith  attributed  the  awarding  of  the  major grant to the work of successive committees over many years.

“The awarding of this grant builds on the work of successive committees over the last ten years, which established and developed the relationship between Pride WA and Lotterywest,” Mr Smith said.

“The  behind  the  scenes  work  of  many  people  on  the  current  Committee  of  Management  cannot  be understated. They  have  worked  tirelessly  this  year  to  build  relationships  within  the  Pride Community,  and  across  the  broader  community,  and  this  hard  work  has  been  recognised  by Lotterywest.

“The trust and confidence Lotterywest has shown in the future plans outlined to them by the Pride committee this  year, is a clear signal to the wider  community that Pride WA has a significant role to play in Western  Australia.”

The award of the grant comes after the poor financial performance of Pridefest 2012 which saw the organisation make a significant loss.

PRIDEFEST  2013:  Rainbow  Nation  will  commence  on  2nd  November  with  a  daytime  PARADE through  Northbridge  at  1pm,  followed  by  an  all  day  arts  and  music  CELEBRATION  in  Russell  Square.    The  festival  will  run  for  three  weeks  to  23rd  November.

OIP Staff