Artists in Western Australia’s regions understand viscerally that climate change is already reshaping our present. They see it in the changing patterns of seasonal rains, in the shifting behaviours of native species, and in the subtle transformations of landscapes that have been home to stories for millennia.

This profound connection between art and environment came alive spectacularly in March at the Margaret River HEART on Wadandi Boodja. As part of our Thrive! Framework’s commitment to climate adaptation and resilience, Regional Arts WA and Arts Margaret River co-hosted a thought-provoking conversation expertly facilitated by WA Climate Leaders’ Meri Fatin. Artist Sky River’s ‘Marri Tree Girl’ production emerged as the catalyst for the conversation —a four-year creative journey that weaves together folklore, masterful puppetry, and ancient Wadandi storytelling. Sky highlighted urgent environmental threats to local Marri trees, bringing to life the impact of the Marri Canker fungal disease.

This creative momentum carried through to Albany later in the month, where young voices took centre stage. Southern Edge Arts’ ‘Traps and Ladders’ project saw WA’s next generation of artists tackle environmental challenges head-on. Their incredible performance around the restoration of Miaritch Oyster Harbour demonstrated problems, solutions and sparked conversations about their local waters. 

None of this vital work happens in isolation. Through our Regional Arts Network, supported by visionary partners like Minderoo Foundation, The Ian Potter Foundation, and the Australian Government’s Regional Arts Fund, we’re creating spaces where artists, scientists, Elders, and community members can come together. These gatherings exemplify our Thrive! Framework’s focus on peer-to-peer learning and community wellbeing, fostering sustainable practices and building career pathways for future generations.

The conversations are incubators for hope, catalysts for action, and powerful evidence that art isn’t just documenting climate change—it’s helping us process it, understand it, and imagine new ways forward.

Watch

We’ve been sharing these inspiring stories across our social media channels, with our community responding enthusiastically to the intersection of art and environmental action.

Albany Local Conversation – Facebook short video

Albany Local Conversation Instagram short video

Albany Youtube video (full length): Local Conversation: Art, Climate & Culture

Margaret River Youtube video (full length): Local Conversation: Art, Climate & Culture