FAQs

In 2019, the Mount Burdett Foundation was established by Chris Reichstein, owner of Mount Burdett Farm, with a vision to create a vibrant, resilient Esperance community. Before his passing in 2021, Chris had a vision “to create a world class sculpture trail of high quality, unique installations that respond to the dramatic land and seascape of Esperance”. Through his legacy and the support of the Mount Burdett Foundation, FORM is partnering with the project Steering Committee to test this vision with the Esperance community, listen, and collaborate with them on an outcome that takes this vision as a starting point, and meets their needs and aspirations.

A successful outcome will be one that benefits the entire community, and one that builds community cohesion and pride.

As outlined in the Mount Burdett Foundation’s Statement of the Founder’s Intent, there is social benefit in bringing people together through the creation and improvement of public spaces for the purposes of recreation, entertainment, and leisure. Taking this social benefit as its starting point, the project also has the potential to deliver economic, environmental, or other outcomes for Esperance, to be determined with the community.

FORM has secured funding from Lotterywest and Mt Burdett Foundation, to undertake an extended period of community consultation and engagement, to listen to the Esperance community, understand community aspirations, and ensure that outcomes are community driven and led.

The Project Steering Committee are keen to hear from the community their views on a potential sculpture trail in Esperance. There is no pre-determined outcome for this project; FORM is keen to listen and collaborate.

Through this engagement process, FORM hopes to:

• Understand community’s reactions and implications or consequences of a potential sculpture trail in Esperance
• Generate ideas and options
• Establish an environment where participants feel supported and inspired to contribute long-term
• Empower community stakeholders and build community capacity and capability through the engagement process
• Determine collaboration opportunities and integration between other stakeholder strategies and plans.
• Inform the community and stakeholders of how their input influenced the project.

Additionally, it is hoped that widespread community engagement with this project will assist to build connections throughout the community, capture the essence of the Esperance identity, create shared ownership for the future trail, and instil a sense of pride within the community. 

As community consultation is only just beginning, we do not have a clear idea of the community’s vision for this project. The consultation is focused on the purpose of the project; the “why” and “what”. The “how”, “where” and “who” will be worked on as Phase 2 of this project, after the community engagement process has been completed in February 2025.

The project is an opportunity to tell many stories, the history of the region and the stories and culture of all people, including the area’s Traditional Owners, the Kepa Kurl Wudjari people whose ancestral lands span over 30,000 square kilometres of Southern Western Australia. Part of the community consultation process is to explore what Esperance is, and how this might be visually communicated through a sculpture trail.

At this stage, our focus is on engaging with the community to determine if a sculpture trail is right for the Esperance region. We understand the importance of environmental impact and conservation, and assure that if the project moves forward, comprehensive environmental impact assessment will be conducted for each location, as well as further consultation with the appropriate stakeholders.

A Project Steering Committee was formed to lead the development of the Esperance Sculpture Trail. Additionally, an Arts Advisory Group and an Aboriginal Advisory Group have been established via an open call for expression of interest, to provide expert advice to the Project Steering Committee throughout the project. A nominated representative of each Advisory Group will be appointed to the Project Steering Committee. The Project Steering Committee has appointed FORM to manage the project and undertake the community engagement process.

There are lots of ways to be involved in this project such as community workshops, community surveys, as well as through this online engagement hub! This is an opportunity to shape a historic project that can express the identity and beauty of Esperance for the community, and to the world. 

Complete our online survey here

Share your IDEAS here for what you'd like included in this project!

FORM is an independent, not-for-profit arts and cultural organisation based in Claremont and operating across Western Australia and beyond. 

Our mission is to be a leader in the development of a vibrant creative economy for the benefit and wellbeing of all Western Australian communities. 

FORM’s vision is for Western Australia to be a thriving and connected participant in a global creative economy. We want to see the diversity and excellence of Western Australian cultural expression shared with local and international audiences and communities. Our vision is realised through our values: creativity, excellence, integrity, community empowerment and collaboration. 

This website will host all the latest information for this exciting project, including all the latest project updates. 

Or alternatively, contact us directly at engage@form.net.au or 9385 2200