- Cook
Government funding strengthens access to creative industries in regional
communities
- Funding
boost supports 17 projects to deliver creative experiences across WA's regions
- $780,000
in State Government funding for regional artists and activities
- Cook
Government fostering a vibrant and creative economy
Artists across regional Western Australia
will be able to deliver more community-led arts and cultural activities after
receiving a funding boost through the 2025-26 round of the Arts Activities in
Regional Communities program.
Almost $780,000 invested by the Cook
Government through the 2025-26 round will be shared among 17 projects,
supporting community-led arts and cultural activity across the State's regions.
The funding supports festivals,
performances, interactive public art and community engagement as well as
creative and cultural planning and professional development for artists,
helping to foster the creation of new work, increase participation in arts and
culture, and improve access to high-quality cultural experiences in regional
Western Australia.
The Arts Activities in Regional Communities
program is delivered through two funding categories:
- Creative
Projects, awarding up
to $60,000 to support community-led arts and cultural activities; and
- Creative
and Cultural Planning,
awarding up to $50,000 to support regional local governments to develop or
refresh creative and cultural plans.
Projects supported in this round will be
delivered across regional Western Australia during 2026 and 2027, creating
opportunities for communities to come together, share stories, build skills and
celebrate local creativity.
The recipients of the 2025-26 Arts
Activities in Regional Communities program are:
- Gascoyne
in May - $60,000 for
Festival Machines
- Theatre
Kimberley - $59,684
for It Made You Feel Important
- City of
Karratha - $59,809 for
Red Earth Arts Festival 2026
- Goolarri
Media Enterprises – $59,518
for Grow and evolve Goolarri's Writers Program
- Lachlan
McGregor - $17,910 for
Playmakers 2026
- City of Busselton - $49,594 for the
development of an Arts, Culture and Heritage Strategy for the City of
Busselton
- Pigram
Productions - $59,912
for Raised in Big Spirit Country – Broome
- Geraldton
Open Studios & Surrounds – $33,339 for GOSS Open Studios 2026
- Kimberley
Arts Network - $52,781
for The Kimberley Open Studios Trail
- Town of
Port Hedland - $15,100
for Unleashed – Pilbara Pride Week 2026
- Shire
of Upper Gascoyne -
$36,000 for Gascoyne Music in the Park 2026
- Denmark
Arts Council - $58,898
for the Beyond 'Brave New Works' Project
- Bidyadanga
Aboriginal Community La Grange - $27,101 for From the Desert to the Seaside - Bidyadanga Music and
Arts Festival
- Perth
International Jazz Festival - $48,300 for From Zero to 100: Performance and Community
Engagement Program
- Arts
Margaret River -
$27,586 for Common Ground 2026
- Kirsten
Hudson - $59,645 for
Light as Voice: Cameraless Photovoice Residency and Community Program
- Bunbury
Fringe - $53,954 for
Bunbury Fringe 2027 - The Next Decade
For more information on the Arts Activities
in Regional Communities program visit the Department of Creative Industries, Tourism
and Sport website.
Comments attributed to Creative Industries Minister Simone McGurk:
"When communities have access to arts and culture, they are stronger,
more connected and more vibrant.
"The Arts Activities in Regional Communities
program backs our State's regional artists and local governments to deliver
community-led projects and build vibrant communities.
"These projects celebrate local stories,
creativity and connection, while creating opportunities for people of all ages
to engage with arts and culture where they live."
Comments attributed to Regional Development
Minister Stephen Dawson:
"The Cook Government recognises the vital
role artists and organisations play in bringing people together across Western
Australia.
"This funding ensures regional Western Australians can continue to enjoy
diverse creative experiences that build pride of place and community wellbeing."
