- Financial support for visual and performing arts, music, cultural projects and events
- 29 grants totalling almost $1.7 million dollars awarded to develop the sector in WA
- Three rounds of ‘Arts Projects for Organisations’ funding available each financial year
A total of 29 arts and cultural organisations will share almost $1.7 million in Cook Government grants to support arts, music, and cultural projects in Western Australia.
The Arts Projects for Organisations grant program supports the development and growth of a vibrant 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 for arts and creative industry organisations to deliver a one-off project or program of activities.
In the latest round of funding, which opened on 22 August 2023 and closed on 28 September 2023, there were 29 successful applicants sharing a total of $1,698,287 in funding. Projects and events benefitting from these grants include writers, music, and Aboriginal cultural festivals; cabaret performances; opera, photography; and weaving.
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:
“I am excited that we now have 29 high-quality projects that will get off the ground with Government support via this program which will go a long way to developing and enhancing the arts and creative industries sector in WA.
“The diversity of the sector is reflected in the list of successful projects which involve a wide range of artistic endeavours, including visual and performing arts, music, photography, writers’ events and publications, among many others.
“I urge the public to support these organisations and their projects at a community level when these amazing projects are completed, and I personally can’t wait to see the results.
“I encourage our amazing arts organisations to apply for these grants to help develop, promote and implement their projects, and transform ideas into reality for the benefit of the wider WA community.”
Successful applicants for the Arts Projects for Organisations grant program:
360 Artist Logistics Pty Ltd Sound States 2024 $45,880
Sound States is a three-day music business mentorship program for early career music managers and self-managed musicians, delivered by music manager Hayley Ayres alongside numerous members of the music community who feature as speakers or mentors. It will run from 10-12 June 2024 at the State Library of Western Australia.
Art Collective WA Presenting WA artists at Melbourne and Sydney art fairs $24,917
Art Collective WA is an artist-run, not-for-profit association with 36 members practising diverse visual art forms. In 2024, Art Collective WA will promote WA artists at significant national art fairs in Melbourne and Sydney in February and September.
Arts Margaret River Inc Margaret River Readers & Writers Festival 2024 $50,000
This festival is the largest literacy festival in regional Western Australia and commences in May 2024. It features a three-day literary festival in Margaret River, a two-week Young Readers & Writers program and a one-day literary event in Busselton.
Australian Baroque Ltd 2024 Annual Program $80,000
Australian Baroque is a performance and education focused organisation based in Perth. The 2024 program of activity includes collaborative performances and education programs delivered to WA regional centres. The grant will support administration, management and marketing in order to deliver the annual program.
Baiyungu Aboriginal Corporation Gunjayindiya ‘A Gathering Place’ at Jamba Nyinayi Festival 2024 $78,000
The Jamba Nyinayi Festival is a new community festival and local Indigenous arts and cultural showcase event, held at Cardabia Station near Coral Bay. The aim is to showcase our Country, Gunjayindiya, celebrating its history and traditional stories with artists of the region sharing unique presentations of this vision.
Boss Arts Creative Incorporated Bina Bidi Indigenous Performance Program $70,550
Bina Bidi is an emerging Indigenous artist development program consisting of four 10-week terms of workshops at the WAAPA campus, covering Nyoongar dance, language, singing, songwriting and theatre.
Cloning Music Pty Ltd Cloning headline Australian tour and digital marketing campaign $19,047
Perth indie rock band Cloning will undertake a comprehensive digital marketing campaign and headline national tour in support of Cloning’s third EP, ‘Only Human’. The tour will commence in April 2024 and include performances in Perth, Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide, Canberra and Kalgoorlie.
Freeze Frame Opera Inc Freeze Frame Opera’s 2024 program of events $80,000
Freeze Frame Opera will deliver an annual program of activity supporting its vision to create outstanding musical performances and make opera accessible to a broad audience. These include a staged Italian opera, a staged contemporary opera, an adaption of The Magic Flute for schools and families, and additional concerts and workshops.
Goolarri Media Enterprises Pty Ltd Growing Goolam’s Indigenous Writing Program $75,598
In 2024 Goolarri Media will deliver the Indigenous Writing Program including regular writers’ meetings, tutorials and workshops, Indigenous-led masterclasses, an augmented reality installation in Broome’s Chinatown precinct, a speculative fiction novel, a theatre play called ‘Because We’re Black’ by Melody Dia and a digital story about the band Fitzroy Xpress.
Indian Ocean Craft Triennial Inc Engaging core staff and building skills in WA $80,000
Indian Ocean Craft Triennial (IOTA) promotes contemporary craft and connections around the Indian Ocean. It celebrates handcrafted art, cultural exchange and builds audiences for craft. This program will support staffing costs to implement IOTA in 2024, and will facilitate management of sector collaborations, international engagement, logistics, artist and exhibition content.
Jewellery & Metalsmiths Group of Australian (WA) Inc Jewellers and Metalsmiths Group national conference, workshops and tours $29,184
The Jewellers and Metalsmiths Group of Australia WA Inc are hosting the 19th ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ JMGA Conference in Perth at North Metropolitan TAFE 4-6 October 2024. The conference features international and local practitioners, educators, curators, critics and theorists for three days of presentations, workshops and exhibitions.
Kwoorabup Arts Pty Ltd Reclaim the Void Weaving Stories $68,778
Reclaim the Void is a contemporary art project consisting of 3000 handmade rag rugs to create a large-scale textile artwork, and associated exhibition material and assets. This development will take place during NAIDOC Week 2024 and will produce 100-150 textile ‘dots’ from between 10-100 rugs each.
Mama Kin Spender Pty Ltd Promises & Wild Beasts creative development $65,519
Danielle Caruana and Dingo Spender, together as Mama Kin Spender, will develop a multi-disciplinary theatre show, centred around a concept album called ‘Promises & Wild Beasts’, including dance, puppetry and choir. Commencing in January 2024, the project will culminate in a five-day creative development and preview performance in Fremantle.
Mandurah Performing Arts Inc Mandurah Performing Arts Centre’s 2024 Artistic Program $80,000
Mandurah Performing Arts Centre is applying for operational funding to support its annual arts program for 2024. The Arts Centre curates a diverse artistic program including comedy, ballet, contemporary dance, drama, musical theatre, opera, music, workshops, youth theatre and education events.
Nannup Music Club Incorporated Nannup Music Festival 2024 $49,990
The 35th Nannup Music Festival will take place from 1 to 4 March 2024 and feature an eclectic mix of live acts in free and ticketed venues. Four-thousand-five-hundred ticket holders and 16,000 visitors are anticipated for the Festival which will feature over 100 acts across eight stages, and 100 stalls.
Night Parrot Press Incorporated Creative development and mentorship of emerging First Nations writer, Mabel Gibson $49,737
Commencing January 2024, Night Parrot Press will mentor emerging First Nations (Yamatji) writer Mabel Gibson in editing and publishing skills for twelve months and support her writing memoir-in-flash. This new autobiographic form is characterised by many short chapters and will document her life from age four to 24.
Performing Lines Limited WA From Here, Together creative development $75,003
Following a 2022 artist residency with Co3, Emma Fishwick will develop From Here, Together into a full-length work exploring ideas of space and progress, and the past and present. The development, commencing in April 2024, will focus on choreography, set design and build, and take place at The Naval Store, Fremantle.
Perth International Cabaret Festival Limited Perth International Cabaret Festival 2024 $80,000
Perth International Cabaret Festival 2024 is the fourth season of WA’s annual cabaret festival and will run 10-22 June 2024. It is a curated festival of local, national and international cabaret artists celebrating diverse cultures, genders and ages with a strong emphasis on WA artists.
Recipe Records PTY Ltd Riley Pearce sophomore album tour and marketing campaign $24,690
Singer-songwriter Riley Pearce will undertake a national tour and digital marketing campaign to support the release of his sophomore album “It’s Your Turn Now” in April 2024. The tour will take place in June and include eight shows across WA, NSW, Vic and Qld.
Sharing Stories Foundation Limited Regional Media Hub and Mentoring Program $79,515
In 2024 Sharing Stories Foundation will establish a Regional Media Hub and Mentoring Program, designed to empower the next generation of Aboriginal content creators and creative leaders in the Kimberley. Led by Yawuru filmmaker Michael Jalaru Torres, it will provide Aboriginal creatives access to professional mentors and state-of-the-art media equipment.
South Summit Band Pty Ltd Major support tour with Coterie $33,217
South Summit is a reggae fusion group formed in Perth that has been invited to tour supporting Coterie commencing January 2024. Coterie will provide South Summit the chance to play the group’s biggest venues to date, including venues in Perth, regional WA, Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and New Zealand.
Southern Forest Arts (Inc.) Southern Forest Arts Annual Program 2024 $65,000
Southern Forest Arts will deliver a comprehensive arts program in 2024 aimed at enriching diverse communities in WA’s southern forests and valleys. The three main areas of focus are the Regional Arts Triennial, the Rivers of Thirst Beacons of Hope Project and collaborating with the Regional Arts Network.
Tenth Muse Initiative Incorporated Tenth Muse Initiative annual program of activity $66,874
Tenth Muse Initiative is a team of creatives working in classical music and opera. Its annual program features four diverse concerts, the development of educational resources, regional engagement, and the development of the ‘Rough & Ready’ emerging artist initiative.
The Perth Centre for Photography Inc Strategic plan, sustainability plan and business case for growth $66,854
In response to a strategic review, Perth Centre for Photography will engage a business development consultant to work with key staff to increase the organisation’s reach and diversify its income streams.
Theatre 180 Inc Theatre 180 annual program of activity $80,000
Theatre 180 is requesting support for operational expenses supporting delivery of an annual program including two world premieres, remounted productions, regional and interstate tours, and community engagement. The company aims to grow audiences by engaging with supporters, expanding into new markets, and providing opportunities for WA artists and arts workers.
Tone & Cheek Productions Pty Ltd Tuck Shop at Rooftop Movies $35,925
Tone & Cheek Productions will develop an original diner-themed cabaret production showcasing local artists and performers, including circus, physical theatre, dance, burlesque, and live music. The month-long premier season will be held in April 2024, and transform the Rooftop Movies venue in Northbridge into an immersive outdoor theatre space.
Tone List Inc Audible Edge Festival of Sound $69,648
Audible Edge is an annual artist-run festival focused on emerging and experimental music practices to be held in April 2024 at multiple locations including WA Museum Boola Bardip, Goolugatup Heathcote and Astral Weeks. The program includes three days of performances by international, national and local artists and experimental music workshops and skills sharing.
Tura New Music Ltd The Warder Flute Project Grant administered for Kate Milligan $41,021
A new audio-visual work for a renaissance flute, found on a shipwreck in Holland, will be premiered at WA Museum Boola Bardip with guest musicians Historically Informed Performance Company in April 2024. Accompanying workshops and seminars will be hosted by UWA Conservatorium of Music and St George’s College.
UWA Westerly Magazine Publication with Westerly Magazine in 2024 $33,360
Building on new partnerships, Westerly seeks to continue supporting WA writers and promoting their work in fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, and essays to new cohorts of readers.
