Culture and the arts funding

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Aboriginal Arts Commissioning Fund

Funding round closed

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: 

• encourage the expression and preservation of traditional and contemporary regional Western Australian Aboriginal cultures, communities, and identities through the arts
• support the development of significant and large-scale works created and produced by Aboriginal artists in regional Western Australia
• enable employment opportunities for regional Aboriginal artists, arts workers and communities
• showcase the unique stories of Western Australia’s First Nations peoples and engage new and diverse audiences.

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Arts Organisations Investment Program

Funding round opening soon

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 Arts Organisations Investment Program aims to build strong Western Australian arts, cultural and creative sector organisations that support the vibrancy of our State and celebrates this internationally.

It invests in a portfolio of small to medium organisations that:

• create and present high quality and the best of its type arts, cultural and creative experiences
• create work that is original, innovative and authentic that respects cultural tradition, or promotes social awareness and cohesion
• broaden and deepen community access and engagement in arts, cultural and creative experiences
• reflects the diversity of the State through telling Western Australian stories
• have strong connections with and presence in communities increasing the reach, depth and diversity of audience engagement
• collaborate with others to create new sustainable ways of working together
• leverage opportunities and funding from a range of sources and partners develop and operate in a financially, environmentally and socially sustainable way.

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CBD Revitalisation Grant Program

Funding round closed

The $4 million CBD Revitalisation Grant Program is part of a $12 million package to bring people back into the Perth CBD to accelerate economic and social recovery.

This will be achieved by providing targeted funding for activation activities to eligible businesses, property owners and not-for-profits to run a wide-range of events that focus on increasing foot traffic in the city, utilising empty and unused buildings throughout the CBD and activating the night-time economy. 

The McGowan Government has committed $12 million to revitalise the Perth CBD. This includes a $4 million grant program for businesses, property owners and not-for-profit organisations to revitalise the city through event and activation activities over the next 12 months.

Eligible applicants will be able seek grant funding of up to $100,000 through the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries (DLGSC) through three funding rounds with specific delivery dates.

As part of the program, applicants will also be able to apply to the WA Government for the use of locations such as Elizabeth Quay, Yagan Square and the Cultural Centre Precinct. Applications for use of State-managed sites must be made separately to the relevant agency.

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Community Participation and Inclusion Program

Funding round closed

Improving social inclusion and access to arts and culture in regional WA.

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Connecting to Country

Funding round closed

Supports projects that enable Western Australian Aboriginal people and organisations to undertake on Country activities that foster the intergenerational transfer of knowledge, preservation of culture and strengthening of communities.

The program intends to:

• facilitate sharing of cultural knowledge and skills between generations, such as the preservation of language, stories and dance
• recognise Aboriginal cultural leadership within the Aboriginal community and support leadership development in young people
• contribute to stronger community mental health and wellbeing
• strengthen, protect and maintain traditional ways of maintaining cultural knowledge.

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Creative Communities COVID-19 Recovery Program

Funding round closed

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 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 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.   

Categories include:

• The Creative Communities — Residency category provides for short term artist-in-residence projects that run for a minimum of 4 weeks. This category is now closed.
• The Creative Communities — Collaboration category provides for significant, collaborative artist-in-residence projects that run for a minimum of 10 weeks. This category is now closed.

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Creative Learning Partnerships Program

Funding round closed

Increasing access for students and teachers to engage in enriched learning through arts experiences.

The Creative Learning Partnerships Program offers grants between $60,000 and $250,000 per annum to deliver 2-year creative learning programs. 

The Creative Learning Partnerships Program focuses on enhancing creative learning capabilities both in and through the arts. This partnership program enhances students’ (years 2 to 9) and educators’ creative learning capabilities through building pedagogical capacities of educators and increasing access and participation in the arts, cultural and/or creative activities, with particular emphasis on low socioeconomic areas and/or regional Western Australia.

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Event Suppliers Support Program

Funding round closed

One-off financial aid payment for an event suppliers business.

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Getting the Show Back on the Road+

Funding round closed

Helping reduce financial risks for ticketed events in WA.

As part of the State Government’s $77 million Safe Transition Industry Support Package, a $10 million extension to the Getting the Show Back on the Road+ (GTSBOTR+) has been announced. GTSBOTR+ aims to reduce the financial risks associated with running ticketed events in Western Australia (WA) during a COVID-19 impacted period, and to encourage the safe continuation of public ticketed events.

The GTSBOTR+ program provides support through sharing the risk of lost ticket revenue or registration fees for events impacted from 5 February 2022 from:

• Cancellation due to:
  • impacts of the border opening delay;
  • COVID-19 infection or direction to isolate for event key personnel;
  • quarantine requirements for key personnel entering WA making the event unviable; and
  • COVID-19 capacity restrictions or social distancing directions.
• Support for events that proceed but incur a substantial impact on the number of tickets sold (minimum 50% lost ticket sales/registrations) due to the impact of COVID-19 requirements.
• The GTSBOTR+ program will provide three tiers of support to cover lost ticket revenue or registration fees due to the causes listed above as follows:
  • 75% of gross ticketing/registration fee value for cancelled events resulting from a COVID-19 direction;
  • 50% of gross ticketing/registration fee value for self-cancelled events linked to COVID-19 requirements and/or border opening delay impacting on the viability of the event;
  • 30% of gross ticketing/registration fee value for events that proceed but incur a substantial impact on the number of tickets sold/registrations (min 50% fewer tickets/registrations) due to COVID-19 requirements.
  • The program does not support requests for retrospective coverage for events that have already occurred. Applications must be submitted at least 2 weeks before an event.

Due to the Level 2 Public Health and Social Measures currently in place in Western Australia in response to the COVID-19 pandemic where there is an impact on the viability of live performances. Payments are available to support the unrecoverable costs for the rescheduling of pre-approved events under the Getting the Show Back on the Road+ program, for events scheduled in the Level 2 Public Health and Social Measures period as follows:

• Support for unrecoverable rescheduling costs to be set at 30 per cent of pre-approved gross ticketed sales estimate to a cap of $150,000
• Support is limited to one reschedule per event.

The program funding caps is $150,000 against 75% of pre-approved lost ticket sales income. For events that experience significant box-office impact, support of up to $500,000 is available subject to Ministerial discretion. Any claims above the funding cap of $150,000 are assessed by external auditors, and based on unrecoverable expenditure (against substantiated receipts) not lost revenue.

GTSBOTR+ is a risk share program that works on a pre-approval model. An applicant is required to submit an application at least 2 weeks prior to an event commencing.

Please contact GTSBOTR+ team before submitting a claim above the funding cap to ensure you provide the necessary preliminary information to obtain approval to submit an above the cap funding request.

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Harmony Week grants

Funding round closed

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.

Funding round is now closed.

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Leveraged Creative and Cultural Planning

Funding round closed

Incentivising regional local governments to develop creative and cultural plans and activities.

Funding delivered through Leveraged Creative and Cultural Planning is intended to:

• support the creation of co-designed creative and cultural plans for regional local governments, groups of regional local governments or regional zones in WA
• ensure integration of creative and cultural plans with regional local government Strategic Community Plans
• increase support for the development of the arts, cultural infrastructure, heritage and creative industries in regional WA
• improve economic and jobs growth in regional communities
• support activities that encourage cultural tourism opportunities and the creative and cultural industries
• contribute to the vibrancy and social wellbeing of regional communities. 

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Partnership Acceptance Learning Sharing (PALS)

Funding round closed

Grants for WA schools to promote and advance reconciliation.

Funding assistance 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:

• Partnership between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people based on trust, mutual respect and understanding.
• Acceptance of and respect for diversity and valuing Aboriginal perspectives.
• Learning more about each other, Aboriginal histories, languages and cultures; and how we can build strong partnerships with Aboriginal people.
• Sharing a common journey towards healing and reconciliation.

PALS projects must focus on reconciliation and align with one or more of our six categories. In addition, an in class learning component is mandatory and must feature with your grant.

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Performing Arts, Theatres and Cinemas Assistance Program

Funding round closed

One-off financial aid payment to a range of indoor entertainment venues.

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Playing WA

Funding round closed

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.

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Playing WA Multi-year

Funding round closed

Touring performing arts shows to regional WA

Playing WA supports the costs of touring WA-produced performing arts shows to regional and remote towns and communities in Western Australia.

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.

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Playwright Partnership Program

Funding round closed

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.