Mandurah's Stretch expanded

Mandurah's Stretch Festival will be expanded next year in the hope it will become Western Australia’s premier community art event.

Mandurah City Council approved the expansion at a meeting on Tuesday night and planning for the 2013 festival will incorporate more free and paid workshop and professional development opportunities in the arts.

A report to council explained the Common Threads Wearable Art event would enjoy an increase in profile and a new marketing approach for the festival would be undertaken.

‘‘The program will focus on more standalone specialist events in contemporary dance, photography, film and ticketed live music,’’ it read.

‘‘It is envisaged that by 2014 the City would produce a full ticketed, staged Wearable Art show at the Mandurah Performing Arts Centre.

‘‘The event aims to be a premium Wearable Art event in Australia and would receive entries Australia-wide to participate.’’

The council approved reallocating $20,000 for a professional, external evaluation of Stretch in the February budget review.