Arts venues receive funding boost in regional Western Australia

Western Australia’s Regional Arts Venues Support program (RAVS) will see 11 regional performing arts venues and 11 regional public art galleries benefitting from up to $70,000 per annum over three years.

The funding will help regional theatres, civic centres, public galleries and other arts venues to expand their annual programming to better engage the local community and create opportunities for cultural tourism.

RAVS is a competitive grants program open to regional arts venues operated by local government authorities and not-for-profit organisations.

RAVS consists of two funding branches: Regional Exhibition Touring Boost (RETB) for public art galleries, and Regional Arts and Cultural Investment Program (RACIP) for performing arts venues.

Some of the programs funded include initiatives that will support productions written for and by First Nations people, greater participation by children and young people, and the upskilling of artists and arts workers in regional communities.

RAVS funding will have a major impact on the accessibility of regional performing and visual arts and support the local tourist economy.

WA Culture and the Arts Minister David Templeman noted "Our regional communities are diverse and talented. The State Government is proud to deliver funding that encourages a diversity of voices and audiences in the regional arts sector.”

WA Regional Development Minister Don Punch added "The benefits of a thriving arts sector for regional communities are felt by our local artists, audiences and economies.

"In a State as large and diverse as WA, we're proud to be supporting a vibrant cultural landscape which offers something for everyone, no matter where you live."

Eleven performing arts venues have received program funding through the RACIP Performing Arts Venues category:

1. Arts Margaret River, Nala Bardip Mia/Margaret River HEART 2024-2027 - $70,000 per annum;

2. Arts Narrogin, In The House - Connecting Community through Performing Arts Program 2024-2027 - $70,000 per annum;       

3. Bunbury Regional Theatre, An Explosion of Arts Activity - Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre 2024-2027 - $70,000 per annum;        

4. City of Busselton, Saltwater Performing Arts Centre Opening Program - ­$70,000 per annum;

5. City of Greater Geraldton - Queens Park Theatre, Something More - $70,000 per annum;

6. City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder - Goldfields Arts Centre, Expanded Program 2024 to 2027 - $69,935 per annum;

7. Ravensthorpe Regional Arts Council, Rave About Arts: Inspiring the Possibilities Within - $70,000 per annum;    

8. Shire of Broome - Broome Civic Centre, See you at Civic - $70,000 per annum;

9. Shire of Harvey - Harvey Recreation and Cultural Centre, Expanded Annual Performing Arts Program 2024-2027 - $70,000 per annum;

10. Shire of Moora, Moora Performing Arts Centre Extended Program 2024-2027 - $70,000 per annum; and    

11. Southern Forest Arts, More Than Applause: Cultivating Vibrant Communities - $50,000 per annum.

Eleven regional galleries have received program funding through the RETB Public Art Galleries category:

1. Beverley Station Arts, Visual Arts for All - Exhibition Programming Expansion and Public Programming - $35,000 per annum;

2. City of Albany, Public Program Expansion - $70,000 per annum;

3. City of Bunbury, Aboriginal Curatorial Development Residency Program - $70,000 per annum;

4. City of Greater Geraldton, Geraldton Regional Art Gallery Membership Program - $45,530 per annum;

5. Goldfields Arts Centre - City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Artist in Residence program - $50,668 per annum;

6. North Midlands Project, Threads in Common Expanded Exhibition + Public Program - $69,500 per annum;

7. Shire of Carnarvon, Carnarvon Art Gallery Program Expansion - $58,000 per annum;

8. Shire of Shark Bay, Rose de Freycinet Art Gallery Expanded Programming - $55,240 per annum;

9. Southern Forest Arts, Stretch and Connect Visual Arts Program - $70,000 per annum;

10. The Cannery Arts Centre, Expansion of Exhibition Program: Art Room Gallery Activation, Touring Exhibitions and Technical Training - $25,450 per annum; and

11. Warmun Art Aboriginal Corporation, Expanding and Enhancing Warmun Arts Centre's Annual Exhibition Program - $70,000 per annum.

RAVS is supported by Royalties for Regions through Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.

Learn more about RAVS: 

Image top: Ravensthorpe Regional Arts Council; Image above. Geraldton Regional Art Gallery