Celebrating 30 Years of Regional Arts WA: A New Chapter Begins with Thrive!
Natalie de Rozario
Regional Arts WA recently marked a momentous occasion — our 30th anniversary —celebrating three decades of fostering creativity, culture, and community connection across Western Australia. The event, held at the King Street Arts Centre, was a celebration of the organisation’s milestones and a powerful reminder of the many people who have been part of the journey alongside our State’s vibrant regional communities.
We were honoured that the Chamber of Arts and Culture co-presented the event with us, and absolutely thrilled that so many of the regional arts organisations we work with made the effort to attend. Surrounded by passionate and talented creatives, the atmosphere was warm, welcoming and optimistic, allowing for both reflection on the past and anticipation for the future.
Image: The Regional Arts WA Team (Left to right): Alysha Saunders, Carla Steele, Jaala Kuempflein, Janine Oxenham, Emmaline James, Gemma Robins, Catherine Driver, Pilar Kasat, Martin Tunley, Erin Shepherd, Megan Lemon, and a cheeky Henry Boston photobombing in the background.
A highlight of the event was the launch of our new and unashamedly ambitious initiative: Thrive! Regional Arts, Culture & Creativity Investment Framework 2025-2029.
Thrive! is an integrated framework representing our steadfast commitment to nurturing and expanding the regional arts and culture sector over the next five years and into the next thirty. It’s more than just a strategy; it’s a call to action— for everyone to come together and contribute to creativity, vibrancy, and liveability in our regional communities.
Together we can drive creativity and connection by supporting sustainable regional arts and cultural organisations. These organisations are at the heart of our communities and are uniquely positioned to deliver outcomes that reach far beyond the arts. From place activation to mental health and social cohesion, regional arts and cultural organisations are at the forefront of addressing key public challenges. Yet, these organisations face their own challenges, from rising operational costs to the increasing difficulties of retaining staff and supporting the livelihood of regional artists. They need effective and coordinated support, and they need it now.
The arts is not simply entertainment and a ‘nice to have’; it fosters community connection, creativity and good mental health. It fuels innovation that contributes to diversifying local economies, and it shapes the places we cherish. The 30th anniversary celebration was a testament to this spirit.
Audiences were treated to incredible performances by regional artists from Bunbury, Albany, Karratha, and Kununurra. The lineup included the First Nations DJ duo 2LUBLY, musician Codee Lee, and puppet artist Jane Davies, each bringing their unique talents to the stage and exemplifying the diversity and richness of regional arts and culture.
Image: Artist and RAWA Board Member Rosie Sitorus performing her spoken word interpretation of Thrive!
The event was beautifully hosted by Tania Hudson from the Chamber of Arts and Culture and featured inspiring speeches from Jane Kelsbie MLA, RAWA Chair Oliver Bazzini, and our CEO, Dr. Pilar Kasat. A powerful spoken word interpretation of Thrive! by artist and Board Member Rose Sitorus added a poignant touch to the evening. These moments of reflection and inspiration underscored the importance of our purpose and the impact that the arts can have on our regional communities and state.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who made our 30th anniversary celebration so memorable: our performers, our special guests Jane Kelsbie MLA, Divina D’Anna MLA, and The Hon Shelley Payne MLC; our partners and supporters including Tania Hudson, CEO of the Chamber of Arts and Culture, Colin Smith CEO of Lotterywest and Healthway, Penny Dakin Executive Director of Communities at Minderoo Foundation, Nikki Miller A/Executive Director Culture and the Arts at the Department of Local Government, Sports and Cultural Industries; and of course, our incredible team at Regional Arts WA and our supportive Board led by our Chair, Oliver Bazzini.
Pictured (top left to right ): Regional Arts Network representatives with special guests: David Bowman-Bright (North Midlands Project), Anton Blume, Gwen Knox (Goolarri Media), Alysha Saunders (RAWA), Chris Young (Arts Margaret River), Michelle Wright (AMR), Divina D’Anna MLA, Jane Kelsbie MLA, Pilar Kasat (RAWA), Jodie Bell (Goolarri Media), Val Scoponi (The Junction Co.), Fiona Sinclair (Southern Forest Arts), Andrew Bowman-Bright (NMP), Nyree Taylor (Gardiner Street Arts Collective), Jennifer Halton (WAAPA, RAWA Board) and Gemma Robins (RAWA).
Photographs by Matt Biocich
