- Financial support for visual and performing arts, music, dance and theatre projects
- 34 grants totalling more than $1 million awarded to develop the sector in WA
- Three rounds of Arts Projects for Individuals and Groups funding available each financial year
Dozens of community groups and individuals will benefit from more than $1 million in Cook Government grants to support arts, music and cultural projects in Western Australia.
The Arts Projects for Individuals and Groups grant program supports the development and growth of a sector that promotes the participation and active engagement of WA communities in high-quality arts and cultural experiences.
The program, which has three rounds of funding each financial year, offers up to $80,000 each for artists and creative industry professionals to deliver a one-off project or program of activities.
It replaces the Arts 15k-plus and Arts U-15k programs and is divided into three categories: Creative Development; Arts and Creative Business Development; and Aboriginal Arts.
In the latest round of funding, which opened on 22 August 2023 and closed on 28 September 2023, there were 34 successful applicants sharing a total of $1,046,060 in funding.
More information about the program and how to apply is available on the Department of Local Government, Sport and Culture Industries’ website: .
As stated by Culture and the Arts Minister David Templeman:
“Each of the 34 high-quality projects supported by the Government are certainly worthy of funding under this grants program, and our investment will play an important part in developing and enhancing the arts and culture sector in WA.
“The successful projects involve a wide range of artistic disciplines, including visual and performing arts, music, dance, and theatre, among many others. It’s a true reflection of the diversity and vibrancy of the arts and creative industries sector in WA.
“I hope when these exciting projects are completed, their work will get the enormous support from the community that they deserve, and I personally can’t wait to see the results from these highly talented and creative grant recipients.
“I encourage our amazing artists to apply for these grants to help develop, promote and implement their projects, and transform their ideas into reality for the benefit of the wider WA community.”
Successful applicants for the Arts Projects for Individuals and Groups grant program:
Shona Erskine Creative consultancy business development $79,843
Partial funding to develop and promote Shona Erskine and Katt Osborne’s new creative consultancy business over 2024.
Victoria Jane Pitt ‘I’m with Her, a verbatim play’ $69,673
Invited presentation at the International Society for the Performing Arts Congress (ISPA) in Perth in May 2024.
Mark Haslam FAKE: A new electronic visual theatre work $46,732
A four-week research and rehearsal period at PICA and premiere presentation at The Rechabite in May 2024 of new work that utilises web scrapes, generative AI, performance, live projection, installation and audience collaboration, in an immersive, club environment to reflect and deconstruct the excesses of opinion driving political, social and cultural change.
Brooke Leeder Nocturnal $73,424
A new contemporary dance work independently presented by Brooke Leeder and Dancers to be performed in the Studio Performance Space at Subiaco Arts Centre in 2024.
Asher Cluer A Magical Guide to Fighting Fascism $21,201
A three-week creative development in April 2024 of a new theatre work celebrating the cultural and linguistic diversity of Western Australia that explores the links between Chilean dictatorship, Jewish persecution, Scottish resistance, and Australian immigration.
Humphrey Bower An Imaginary Life $79,915
Presentation of a new stage adaptation of David Malouf’s novel to take place in the Galbraith buildings in Cossack and the Moores Building in Fremantle in mid-2014.
Rhiannon Bryan One of Us $37,868
A new play by Sam Nerida that follows five young lesbians in a conversion therapy camp, celebrating the fierceness of found family, the perseverance of youth and unashamed queer joy. To premiere as part of The Blue Room Theatre’s Annual Season in April 2024.
David Ledger Mural Project on Family Child Health Centre $9,009
Perth artist to create a mural with Joanne Clark for the Karrinyup Child Health Centre from January to March 2024.
Elizabeth Marruffo Pup Pup is the Boss of the Stars $30,611
Research, production, and publication of a new graphic novel in 2024. The auto-fictional work adapts the structure of The Wind in the Willows to tell the story of a teen girl Maggie who is bright, ambitious and dreams of leaving her hometown to pursue her dream of becoming an artist. It will be released by the US publishing house Top Shelf in 2025.
Nicole Monks Gulamanmanha (Bringing Something Closer) $79,751
Research and cataloguing cultural belongings at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery to be remade with Yamaji Community on Country in Geraldton over 2024.
Guy Ben-Ary Music for Surrogate Performer $22,230
Invited to showcase in Lisbon, Portugal at Ectopia Art Space in mid-2024. The project is an innovative bioengineered musical entity developed in collaboration with the late composer Alvin Lucier.
Holli Scott ‘Weather and Weeds’ album $10,562
Contemporary jazz artists Holli Scott, Jamie Oehlers, and Tal Cohen to rehearse, record and launch an album of original music and poetry in Perth from March to November 2024.
Ashlyn Jade Koh Kankawa Nagarra Western Australia tour $8,954
First Nations Elder Waltmatjarri Elder and blues singer-songwriter Kankawa Nagarra (Olive Knight) to tour Nannup and Perth in support of on Country album from February to March 2024.
Janet Carter Creative development of new performance work $14,510
Development and showing of a new performance work over a three-month residency at Fremantle Arts Centre in early 2024. The work is anchored in the physical practice of safely falling.
Isha Mott Ascent, a new dance work $79,960
Final phase development of a new dance work, including rehearsals in Perth and the first presentation of the work at the Queens Park Theatre in Geraldton in May 2024.
Susan Waller Kannajil Choir collaborations with Kobi Arthur Morrison $20,292
A collaboration project of four local choirs to share Noongar culture, history & language through song in Perth from January to December 2024.
Paul Tanner New works for classical guitar and percussion by female composers $21,542
Percussionist Paul Tanner and classical guitarist Jonathan Fitzgerald to commission four Australian female composers to write new works in Perth from February 2024 to January 2025.
Gemma Farrell Gemma Farrell Quintet electronic album $8,785
Jazz act to release and promote their third album including post-production, mastering, album design, printing, and promotion in Perth from January to April 2024.
Kristian Borring Number Junky national tour 2024 $6,196
Jazz trio to plan, promote and perform a national concert tour of Canberra, Tasmania and Melbourne March 2024.
Alister Yiap Travel, develop and exhibit new optical diamond works $13,761
A three-month professional training and development opportunity in Antwerp, and the creation of new optical diamond pieces from March to October 2024.
Siobhan Cotchin Matchbox Twenty and Goo Goo Dolls support tour $33,079
Contemporary music artist to support Matchbox Twenty and Goo Goo Dolls on a national tour in WA, New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, South Australia and Queensland in February 2024.
Anna Richardson Shelter: 2024 TILT Commission $47,251
Visual artists Anna Richardson and Abdul-Rahman Abdullah have been commissioned to research and develop a body of new work for the 2024 TILT Commission by Goolugatup Heathcote from November 2024 to January 2025.
Martina Van der Eecken Concurrencies, development and exhibition of new artworks $22,466
A six-month creative development with two presentation events of ‘Concurrencies’, a multidisciplinary exhibition of visual art inspired by ecological fragility in marine life as part of IOTA24.
Angie Colman Debut album $20,131
Alt-country/rock singer and guitarist to record and release their debut album in Perth from January to October 2024.
Sandra Murray ‘Coalescence’, IOTA24 satellite group exhibition $18,930
Creative development and presentation of a ceramics and textiles exhibition curated by Sandra Murray, featuring five notable artists from regional and metropolitan WA at Kolbusz Space Perth from January to October 2024.
Sherry Paddon Veiled in a Golden Hue $16,931
A multidisciplinary visual arts project that links photography, video and installation in Perth from January to September 2024.
Damian Jacobus Capone End & Being residency $29,670
Interdisciplinary visual artist to undertake a residency at La Maison des Artistes Chamonix, France to research and develop a new project from May to October 2024.
Joshua Mason Oshua sophomore EP $15,000
Hip hop and R&B artist to produce, record, promote and release their six-track sophomore EP in Perth from January to May 2024.
Robert Gear “Time Past and Time Present” exhibition $12,986
An exhibition of 20 new oil paintings, along with a limited-edition book featuring a short story and images of the exhibition artworks, to be held at the Art Collective WA in August 2024.
Damien Binder Damien Binder EP $7,376
The recording, distribution and promotion of a new EP by Perth singer-songwriter Damien Binder produced by renowned WA producer Matt Gio at Rada Studios in Perth.
Tania Ferrier Body of Opportunity exhibition $16,657
“Body of Opportunity” is an exhibition featuring painting, set design/installation, costume creation, photography, and video at Gallery Central, North Metropolitan TAFE, in January and February 2024
Sharmila Wood Art, Care and Ecology, presentation and production $33,568
Content development around Western Australian artists and creative practitioners, plus travel for professional development and presentation at The Block Museum, Northwestern University, in partnership with Expo Chicago’s Curatorial Exchange and Curatorial Forum in 2024.
Monique Le Lievre ‘Stellar Moon’ album tour and release $25,248
Soul singer and funk artist to embark on an extensive WA tour spanning Broome to Albany to promote their debut album from February to April 2024.
Monika Maria Lukowska-Apel TRANSMEDIAL: AI in print $11,948
Exhibition at the Print Council of Australia gallery, Melbourne, during January-February 2024 showcasing recent printmaking work by established WA artists Monika Lukowska and Sarah Robinson.
