- 2026-27 State Budget includes $9.4 million for major arts organisations in Western Australia over three years
- $7.8 million to support small to medium arts organisations in Western Australia
- $14.1 million for key maintenance at WA's arts assets
- New multiyear commitment to FRINGE WORLD festival providing $4.3 million to 2029-30 for the iconic event
- $2 million to help grow WA's digital game production as part of our growth in WA's screen industry
- Cook Labor Government building strong and inclusive communities and investing in our creative industries
This year's 2026-27 State Budget will continue to support Western Australian arts organisations with nearly $40 million to back WA's creative industries.
Over the next three years, the Cook Labor Government will inject an additional $9.4 million to Western Australia's major cultural institutions: Black Swan State Theatre Company; West Australian Ballet; West Australian Symphony Orchestra; West Australian Opera; and Broome based Marrugeku dance company.
Additional funding of $7.8 million for small to medium arts, cultural and creative sector organisations will provide stability across two years. The small to medium arts organisations previously funded under this program include Aboriginal Art Centre Hub of WA, Barking Gecko Arts, Spare Parts Puppet Theatre, Perth Symphony Orchestra, PICA, WA Youth Theatre Company, WA Youth Orchestras, Art on the Move and Magabala Books.
WA's iconic FRINGE WORLD festival will be supported with a new multiyear commitment of $4.3 million across three years.
Digital game production will be further developed in our State with $2 million over two years to continue the production of Western Australian content. This funding will build the local capacity to produce a vibrant games and interactive technology industry in WA.
Video games are worth around $4.21 billion annually in Australia, while Australian-made games brought in $345.5 million in export revenue in 2022.
Meanwhile an extra $14.1 million is being contributed for maintenance of WA's arts assets, protecting the future of our creative buildings.
As stated by Creative Industries Minister Simone McGurk:
"This year's State Budget includes nearly $40 million of funding for creative industries and arts organisations and to protect our creative buildings.
"We have incredible talent in this State that we want to foster, showcase and retain.
"This boost to Western Australian arts organisations will help local artists share their stories, music, performance and dance with audiences across our State and beyond.
"Through our Made in WA Plan we are diversifying the WA economy and growing creative jobs in Western Australia.
"The Cook Labor Government continues to support our arts and creative industries as they are at the heart of how we connect as a community."
