More than $1.3 million in grants for regional performing arts
Eleven regional performing arts organisations will receive more than $1.3 million between them to support touring and reaching audiences in WA’s regions.
The recipients include circuses, theatre shows, music, puppetry, and Aboriginal storytelling.
The State Government support is via Regional Performing Arts funding, including the categories Playing WA and Made in WA, and comes from the Regional Arts and Culture Investment Program (RACIP).
An independent panel of peers from Western Australia’s regional arts touring and performing arts industries assessed dozens of applications against stringent guidelines before selecting the recommended recipients. The recommendations were approved by the Minister for Culture and the Arts.
Grants totalling $1,330,435, for 2024, go to:
- $72,258 — Whiskey & Boots for Mama Stitch to tour to Moora and Harvey
- $86,975 — Tura New Music for Munangga Garlagula to tour Albany, Denmark, Margaret River, Busselton and Bunbury
- $150,000 — Bunbury Regional Theatre Inc to produce and present This is where...
- $143,682 — YUCK Circus for their 2025 tour to Mullewa, Walkaway, Geraldton, Narrogin, Albany, Borden, Varley, Hopetoun and Kalgoorlie
- $107,359 — for Zap Circus to tour to Broomehill, Carnarvon, Dalwallinu, Three Springs, Albany, Cranbrook, Kalgoorlie, Brookton, Mukinbudin, Busselton and Esperance
- $149,800 — CircuitWest Inc for From Be-bop To Hip Hop with WA Youth Jazz Orchestra and Zero Emcee in Harvey, Margaret River, Esperance, Ravensthorpe, Karratha and Mandurah
- $149,914 — for Australian Baroque to deliver A Double Bill: Space Music and Bach and Beer over five weeks in Wokalup, Denmark, Albany, Kalgoorlie, Merredin, Geraldton, Exmouth, Karratha, Port Hedland and Esperance
- $130,598 — Indigenous Arts Foundation for Yarning Singing Tour 2024 in Margaret River, Mandurah, Northam and Karratha
- $147,924 — for CircuitWest to deliver An AWESOME Little Ballet Tour: The Lost Little Llama and Little Red Riding Hood double bill in Esperance, Kalgoorlie, Busselton, Port Hedland, Karratha, Beverley, Hopetoun, Narrogin, Harvey, Albany and Moora
- $42,119 — Spare Parts Puppet Theatre’s The One Who Planted Trees in Geraldton and opening night of the Red Earth Arts Festival in Karratha
- $149,806 — Yirra Yakin love story Songbird to tour in Roebourne, Karratha, Exmouth, Carnarvon, Harvey, Merredin, Albany and Bunbury.
The Made in WA category awards up to $150,000 in funding to support direct regional costs associated with the development and presentation of new performance works in regional WA.
The Playing WA category awards up to $150,000 in funding to support direct regional costs associated with delivering regional performing arts tours.
The Regional Performing Arts (RPA) funding program is a competitive grants program delivered as part of the Regional Arts and Cultural Investment Program (RACIP).
The State Government is proud to invest in performing arts work, made right here in WA, and this funding ensures it reaches regional audiences who otherwise might not get to see these wonderful Western Australian shows.
A range of diverse and unique stories are being told through the successful applicants and the receiving arts and entertainment centres and communities will no doubt delight in the performances.
Supporting regional preforming arts helps with social cohesion across the states and has flow-on economic benefits for our regional towns that host the productions.