Western Australia’s creative sector to RISE

Four creative organisations across Western Australia will share in more than $800,000 under the second batch of grants from the Morrison Government’s $200 million Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) Fund, which is designed to reactivate live performance venues and events.

Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts, the Hon Paul Fletcher MP, said the latest RISE funding will begin to flow immediately to rejuvenate the sector and to create more than 200 job opportunities in creative organisations throughout Western Australia.

“Arts and entertainment is intrinsic to Western Australia’s identity, supporting cultural expression, community and social wellbeing, along with significant employment and economic benefits for the state,” Minister Fletcher said.

“That is why we are committing more than $800,000 to support four leading organisations which are seeking to restart, re-imagine or create new cultural and creative activities throughout Western Australia.”

One of the largest grant recipients in Western Australia is the International Art Space, which will receive $198,500 to support contemporary artists undertaking residencies in rural locations across the state to increase access to creative and cultural experiences.

The Perth International Cabaret Festival will receive $150,000 to support their inaugural event in June, displaying storytelling, artistic excellence and a celebration of culture.

FORM, an independent, non-profit organisation based in Perth will receive $189,000 to develop a digital project to allow Aboriginal artists in the Pilbara region to explore new modes of expression through photography, animation, audio recording and immersive installation.

This is an innovative project that will directly engage 30 artists and arts workers to develop digital representations of important cultural narratives for transmission and promotion, increasing social connection, and inspiring immersive cultural storytelling.

The largest grant recipient in Western Australia is Sculpture at Bathers, which will receive more than $280,000 to support their 2022 exhibition, creating more than 80 job opportunities for specialist artists.

This free public visual arts event is expected to attract an audience of more than 70,000 visitors.

On 25 March the Government announced the RISE Fund will be boosted with an extra $125 million to support around 230 projects and up to 90,000 jobs, building on an original commitment of $75 million.

In November 2020 more than $60 million in funding was announced under Batch One of the Fund.

The successful Western Australia projects listed below are part of 61 projects funded under Batch Two of RISE. The full list of Batch Two recipients will be announced in the coming weeks at: www.arts.gov.au/covid-19-update

Find the full list of successful WA projects in the PDF attached.