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Creative WA outlines the government’s plan to strengthen the sector, share stories and celebrate place, and ensure more Western Australians can access and participate in culture, arts and creativity.

The plan brings together initiatives across government and explores key partnerships to ensure the creative, cultural and arts sector can deliver, and benefit from, improved social, cultural and economic outcomes for WA.

More than $54 million in new State Government funding has been committed for key priorities over the next three years. This includes $45 million funded through Lotterywest, with $30 million allocated to arts and culture infrastructure upgrades across WA, and $15 million in targeted support to be provided for Aboriginal Art Centre infrastructure.

The Creative WA vision is based on extensive industry consultation and aims to achieve: 

• Social impact through community connection, improved wellbeing and mental health.
• Cultural impact through strengthened cultures and enhanced liveability.
• Sector development through increased cultural vibrancy and participation in creative, cultural and arts activities.
• Economic growth through increasing productivity, creative industries exports and cultural tourism income.
• Job growth through growth in employment and skills in the creative, cultural and arts sector.

Industry consultation undertaken across the State to inform development of the vision included in-person and online workshops attended by 271 people, including a range of focus groups with senior Aboriginal Elders and cultural leaders, young people, regional Western Australians and people from specific workforces. An online survey was also conducted, with 1069 responses received.

The consultation process was guided by an Arts Leadership Group of industry peers and an extensive literature review overseen by a cross-government working group.

Initiatives for the first three years include new Creative WA Fellowships and Internships that prioritise young people, First Nations people and those living in regional and outer metropolitan locations to help them become sector leaders and grow the state’s creative economy. Funding of $640,000 has been allocated to this initiative per year.

The successful Creative Learning program, which includes the Creativity for Schools program and Creative Learning Partnerships Program, will receive a three-year extension with $1,763,000 allocated per year.

The Creativity and Wellbeing for Young People program will also continue with $1.5 million in joint funding allocated over two years from the WA Government ($1 million) and Healthway ($500,000).

Funding of $350,000 over two years will go to the Technical Services Industry and Workforce Development initiative led by CircuitWest.