Culture and the Arts distributes grants and funding to support vibrant and sustainable arts, culture and creative industry sectors in WA.
Now in its second year, INSPIRE offers five emerging or established Western Australian writers $5000 each and a residency for up to 15 days in a National Trust heritage place.
There are some important dates to remember if you’re planning to apply to some of the department’s culture and the arts grant programs.
WA’s vibrant arts and culture sector continues to receive support from the State Government, with 17 projects representing a variety of disciplines sharing in more than $709,000 from two grants programs.
A writers' festival in Geraldton, community sculpture in Esperance, and a series of astro-photography activities in Mount Magnet are some of the vibrant initiatives receiving funding from the latest round of the Regional and Remote Festivals Fund.
Four major WA touring companies will share just under $1.6 million, taking their productions to regional Western Australia over the next three years, as part of the State Government's Playing WA Multi-year grants program.
Performing arts companies will tour a mixture of world class hip-hop opera, theatre, international jazz, cross-cultural work and musical comedy across regional Western Australia, with funding from the Playing WA grants program.
Arts and cultural venues in regional Western Australia will be buzzing with increased programs of activity next year, thanks to the In the House grants program.
A total of 23 projects by artists and arts organisations from across the State will share in almost $1 million in funding through the State Government's Arts 15k-plus grant program.
Popular Perth rock band Methyl Ethel will embark on a worldwide publicity campaign for their new album, thanks to funding from the State Government's Contemporary Music Fund Grant Program.
Perth will be buzzing with new local theatre next year thanks to funding for three upcoming productions through the Western Australian Theatre Development Initiative (WATDI).
A satirical musical theatre piece will be presented at the recently renovated Albany Town Hall, thanks to funding from the State Government's Western Australian Theatre Development Initiative (WATDI).
A new shared risk program to reactivate live performances and touring activity is opening soon, creating more opportunities for employment and venue activation in the arts industry, building on recent announcements about increased capacity limits for arts venues.
Schools across Western Australia will continue to create projects next year that promote and advance reconciliation in their local community through the Partnership, Acceptance, Learning and Sharing (PALS) program.
A grant program opening soon will support Western Australian Aboriginal people and organisations to undertake trips to renew links between community, Country and culture.
Applications are now open to the Collaboration category of the DLGSC and Lotterywest Creative Communities COVID-19 Recovery Program.
Regional Western Australia will become a hive of arts and cultural activity thanks to three grant programs opening this month, as part of the Regional Arts and Cultural Investment Program (RACIP).
Applications are now open to the DLGSC and Lotterywest Creative Communities COVID-19 Recovery Program.
The arts play a significant role in supporting communities to tackle disruption and re-establish local connection, strength and resilience beyond the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The State Government has responded to the needs of the culture and the arts sector in Western Australia, providing $23.4 million in funding and support as part of COVID-19 responses.
The State Government, through Lotterywest, has provided the biggest agenda of grants — in number and value-making up more than $47.5 million in crucial funding to the Western Australian community.
Providing opportunities for Aboriginal artists to share their stories through the development of new, large scale work.
Funding delivered through the Aboriginal Arts Commissioning Fund is intended to:
The Arts 15k-plus grant program offers between $15,000 and $60,000 funding for artists, creative industry professionals and organisations to deliver a one-off project or a program of activity.
The program supports the development and growth of a vibrant sector that promotes the participation and active engagement of Western Australian communities in high quality arts and cultural experiences.
The Arts Organisations Investment Program is an open and competitive multiyear funding program to support Western Australia’s arts, cultural and creative sector organisations.
The objective of the Arts Organisations Investment Program is to invest in a portfolio of small to medium organisations that collectively:
The Arts U-15k grant program offers up to $15,000 for artists and creative industry professionals to deliver a one-off project or a program of activity.
Provides funding to support projects that enable Western Australian Aboriginal people and organisations to undertake on country trips that foster the intergenerational transfer of knowledge, preservation of culture and strengthening of communities.
Funding distributed through Connecting to Country is intended to achieve the following objectives:
The Contemporary Music Fund Grant Program will assist homegrown contemporary music artists with projects that enable them to produce and promote their work, building links nationally and internationally.
The program provides funding support to the WA contemporary music sector across a range of activities.
Funding for artist-in-residence projects that engage communities and are delivered in partnership with artists and either a local government authority, local school, or community group.
The DLGSC and Lotterywest Creative Communities COVID-19 Recovery Program provides funding for artist-in-residence projects that engage communities and are delivered in partnership with artists and either a local government authority, local school, not-for-profit community organisations or not-for-profit community services organisations.
Shared risk program that supports a percentage of box office loss in the situation where there has been a negative impact due to COVID-19 for the presentation of performing arts and live music events.
Getting the Show back on the Road supports a percentage of box office loss for performing arts and live music events where there is a negative impact due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Stream A eases the financial risks for performing arts organisations, live music producers and presenters, festival organisers and commercial event companies to stage a show or tour during this uncertain time.
The Getting the Show back on the Road program is a part of the WA Recovery Plan’s $15 million shared risk package to reactivate live performances and touring activities.
Funding of $2000 is available for diversity and inclusion activities to celebrate Harmony Week 2021.
Activities with a focus on culture and arts and sport and active recreation are encouraged.
Culture and arts activities must involve a professional artist or arts practitioner working with the community to design and deliver the activity.
Sport and active recreation activities must involve the community participating in a primary activity requiring physical exertion and/or physical skill.
Applications deadline 4:00pm Monday 19 October 2020
Supporting the performing arts in regional Western Australia.
In the House supports the expansion of annual performing arts programs delivered by performing arts venues in regional Western Australia over a two-year period.
Commissioning new performing arts work which is relevant to regional audiences and will be premiered in regional venues.
Funding delivered through Made in WA is intended to:
Grants for WA schools to promote and advance reconciliation.
Funding assistance of $1000 is available for your school to complete a PALS project. PALS projects are varied, and your school may already be involved with initiatives that are eligible for PALS funding. PALS funding is available to all WA primary and secondary schools and encourages schools with and without Aboriginal students to participate.
PALS is an initiative of the department which encourages WA schools to develop projects that promote reconciliation in their local community. PALS is based on the core attributes of:
Supporting touring performing arts shows to regional and remote Western Australia.
Playing WA supports the costs of touring WA-produced performing arts shows to regional and remote towns and communities in Western Australia.
Touring performing arts shows to regional WA
The multi-year funding round of Playing WA supports a three-year touring program, allowing organisations to engage in longer term planning for regional touring.
Assists Western Australian playwrights to partner with established producers in commissioning new theatre scripts that tell Western Australian stories. The program offers grants for applications up to $30,000.
Playwrights are asked to develop proposals in partnership with a producing partner who will commission the work and submit the application. The producing partner must demonstrate the commitment and capacity to develop the commissioned work into a fully professional production within a reasonable timeframe. The producing partner is expected to match funding on a dollar for dollar basis. This may include in-kind support.
The Regional and Remote Festivals Fund supports arts and cultural activity at regional and remote festivals in Western Australia.
Funding delivered through the Regional and Remote Festivals Fund is intended to:
enable local communities to make decisions about their arts and cultural needs.
Supports the production and performance of outstanding professional theatre in Western Australia. The program offers grants for applications up to $100,000.
The initiative encourages the development of a vibrant and sustainable Western Australian theatre sector by supporting high quality professional productions in the mid-tier sector. Successful proposals will include a clear audience development strategy, provide professional development opportunities for WA theatre practitioners and offer the potential to tour regionally and/or nationally.
The Major Performing Arts companies play a vital role in the development of artists and audiences, as well as being a large employer of artists and arts professionals in Western Australia.
Major Performing Arts companies
‘Showcase’ profiles the creativity, skill and talent of artists and arts organisations in Western Australia through media, social media platforms and outdoor screens across the city.
For enquiries relating to the grant programs, including advice or assistance with your application, contact a Grants Officer:
Email the Grants Officer
For help to use the portal or for technical issues, email the Online Grants Support Team.
The department is committed to supporting applicants with disability. Information can be provided in alternative formats (large print, electronic or Braille) upon request.If you require special assistance in preparing your application, please call 61 8 6552 7400 or toll free for regional WA callers on 1800 199 090.Family, friends, mentors and/or carers can attend meetings with you.If you are deaf, or have a hearing or speech impairment, contact us through one of the following:
For interpreting assistance in languages other than English, telephone the Translation and Interpreting Service on 13 14 50.
Toll free (country WA callers only) 1800 199 090