Denmark Arts pioneer Andre Steyl shares his story as one of the original ‘hippies’ of Denmark

Although he is 77, Andre Steyl still feels like his 12-year-old self inside. One of the original “hippies” of Denmark, and the founder of Denmark Arts, he moved to WA’s south coast from his home city of Cape Town in 1978. Steyl felt he needed to leave South Africa because of the political environment at the time, when the policy of apartheid meant racial segregation was part of everyday life. “I wanted to go, I wanted the hippie dream of a little block of land, chooks in the yard, all that sort of thing, which is so stupid, really,” he said. Steyl’s wife at the time was Australian, and they ended up moving to Denmark with their children, settling on a commune. At the time, the town was centred around the timber industry, a practice which was in conflict with Steyl and his family’s “greenie” world view and put them at odds with the locals. “They looked down on us and rubbished us,” he said. “We had to go into town only fortnightly to get our dole and our supplies because we lived out in the bush.” After the mill closed — in part thanks to campaigning from the “greenies” — the workers began leaving town, the environment felt more accepting and Steyl and his family were able to move to Denmark. “Eventually we came to town and I wanted to get involved in the town,” he said. “I wanted to belong to the town and didn’t know how to do that because we were outsiders, so we did it through the arts.” He had studied a fine arts degree back in Cape Town and was a painter, a feat in itself for Steyl who only has the use of his left thumb and index finger after a bout of polio at the age of 12 left him unable to use his shoulders and hands. A film lover all of his life, the “outsider” used his passion for the arts to become part of the community, starting by holding community movie screenings. He realised there weren’t any cultural organisations in Denmark, aside from arts and crafts groups, which led him to form the town’s first such organisation, Denmark Arts. “We decided to form Denmark Arts as a peak body, and I would try and get other little groups together to join us as supporting groups so that we could grow the arts sector in Denmark,” he said. “And the big dream was Denmark would become an arts village. I think we’re close to that now.” One of the first things the group worked on was organising regular markets in the town, which were started without seeking permission from the Shire because, Steyl said, they did not realise they needed to ask. But the markets became so popular they were allowed to hold them anyway. “To me the markets weren’t just about craft,” he said. “It was a free concert in the middle of town, four times a year, and that was my baby because I could pick the musicians.” Other highlights of his cultural involvement in Denmark included leading the first international clown convention in town, and becoming a disability advocate through the Denmark Disability Advisory Council. Several years ago, he retired from working at Denmark Arts, and now has more time to focus on his own artworks, as well as writing the stories of his time in Denmark. “I retired a couple of years ago, but artists can’t retire because it’s in our soul,” he said. “So it’s just given me time to do my own thing.” Steyl will be recognised for his contribution to the arts scene on Friday when he will become the first person to be awarded an honorary life membership of Denmark Arts. During the event, he will present a “visual backdrop” of the history of the organisation which he has documented on film throughout his involvement. It is a fitting way for Steyl, who has always loved film, to pay tribute to the organisation he formed. He is still just as passionate about movies as he was when he was a boy, when he saw one film which has stuck with him throughout his years, and helped form his life’s philosophy. “I’ve found that you don’t actually get old inside,” he said. “I’ve heard that and seen it all over. I was stuck at 12 years old, and that’s the effect of a movie called Peter Pan. I’m not going to grow old and I’ll never lose my shadow, all of those things. “I just love that movie, and it’s lived with me ever since. “So, I’m still 12.”