- Cook Labor Government invests more than $2 million in new arts and cultural initiatives across Western Australia
- 38 projects supported through latest round of Arts Projects funding programs
- Investment supports artists, organisations, and creative workers to deliver diverse cultural experiences
- Cook Labor Government fostering a vibrant and creative economy
Western Australian artists, creative groups, and arts organisations will deliver a diverse range of creative and cultural projects across the State with support from the Cook Labor Government through the latest round of Arts Projects funding.
More than $2 million has been awarded through the Arts Projects for Individuals and Groups and Arts Projects for Organisations grant programs, supporting the development, production, and presentation of new creative work.
As part of this round, 20 recipients will share a total of $766,747 through the Arts Projects for Individuals and Groups program, while a further 18 organisations will share $1,298,061 as part of the Arts Projects for Organisations program, reflecting strong investment across the sector.
The funding will support a broad range of creative activity across multiple artforms, helping artists and organisations develop new work, engage audiences and communities, and strengthen career pathways within Western Australia's creative industries.
The investment reflects Cook Labor Government's Creative WA vision and its commitment to fostering a vibrant, sustainable, and inclusive arts sector that strengthens the State's cultural identity and economy.
The recipients of the Arts Projects for Organisations program are:
- Sweethart Group - $36,472 for Adrian Dzvuke Debut Album Development and Release;
- Perth Centre for Photography - $37,146 for Creative Development - Allow me to introduce myself;
- All The Queens Men - $55,000 for WA Creative Development of The Pageant at Perth Festival 2027;
- Across The Road Music - $64,441 for Good Nights 2026 Regional Tour;
- Beverley Station Arts - $73,058 for Beverley Station Arts 2026/27 Performing Arts Program;
- Performing Lines Limited - $74,443 for The Animals in That Country Stage Development, grant administered for Melissa Cantwell;
- Women of Music Production - $78,999 for Women of Music Production Writers Camp 2026;
- Juluwarlu Group Aboriginal Corporation - $79,200 for Juluwarlu Art Group - Return to Country Creative Cultural Development 2026-2027;
- Boss Arts Creative - $79,640 for Bina Bidi Indigenous Performance Program 2026;
- DesignFreo - $79,690 for Fremantle Design Week 2026;
- Freeze Frame Opera - $79,972 for Annual Program of Activity 2026;
- International Art Space - $80,000 for Know Thy Neighbour 4: Gestures Residency Program;
- Australian Dance Council WA Branch - $80,000 for Building the resilience and capacity of the Western Australian dance industry;
- Word Play Festival - $80,000 for Totally Lit - Adventures in the Port City 2026;
- Camera Story - $80,000 for The Next Step: A Level Up;
- The Children's Book Council of Australia - $80,000 for CBCA WA Children's Book Week 2026;
- pvi collective - $80,000 for pvi collective's 2026-27 Annual Program; and
- Encounter Theatre - $80,000 for Encounter Theatre's 2026-27 Annual Program.
The recipients of the Arts Projects for Individuals and Groups program are:
- Aska Aska - $5,200 for Interstate Visual Storytelling Workshops and Talks;
- Paul Boye - $5,639 for 'Inter-narratives of Hope' Travel Support;
- James Stanwix - $8,575 for Hem Poetics Community Poetry Column and Readings;
- Thomas Blake - $9,597 for New Works for AGNSW and Grafton Exhibitions;
- Shupiwe Chongwe - $15,369 for Artist Exchange for s Ladakh and Fremantle Biennale;
- Guy Ben-Ary - $23,703 for Revivification at the Now or Never Festival;
- J R Inman & I L Quintana - $27,207 for Ricky Neil Jr Debut EP Recording and Release;
- Rachel Mary McMurray - $31,577 for Still Water creative development;
- Humphrey Bower - $33,279 for The Invisible Man creative development;
- Josten Myburgh - $35,583 for Cluster Root: New experimental chamber ensemble works performances;
- Tyrone Robinson - $38,107 for SYM - Second Development for a contemporary dance performance;
- Melissa Clements - $40,513 for Painting Comedy in Times of Collapse;
- Andrew Butler - $45,717 for Spiritual, Libidinal, Mystical;
- Mace Francis - $48,000 for Bars & Brass: Zero X Mace;
- Shirley Mah - $49,184 for Dragon's Tail: New Middle Grade Novel;
- Brooke Leeder - $59,636 for Paradigm is first-stage development by independent collective Brooke Leeder and Dancers;
- Samantha Hortin - $59,746 for Blue Room Theatre Season of the Limitless Mind of Melanie Lemon by Elise Wilson and Arielle Gray;
- G A King & M Storen - $70,130 for Home - Auckland;
- Nicholas Pages-Oliver - $79,985 for Same Time Next Week - Presentation at State Theatre Centre of WA; and
- Rosemarie Sitorus - $80,000 for Piyalbajarri: Yarns and Songs with Peter Salmon Southern WA Tour.
These investments support the development and delivery of creative works that strengthen WA's creative workforce, deepen community engagement, and contribute to a vibrant and diverse cultural landscape.
As stated by Creative Industries Minister Simone McGurk:
"These projects highlight the depth of talent, creativity, and innovation that exists right across Western Australia.
"This funding will help artists and organisations create and share new work, connect with audiences, and continue building strong and sustainable creative careers.
"The Cook Labor Government is proud to support a dynamic arts sector that enriches our communities, creates local opportunities, and ensures Western Australians can continue to experience high-quality arts and cultural activities."
