Next Gen Arts Recipients

Shire of Moora | Wheatbelt | $5,000
This project brings Geraldton street artist Shahran Jackey (Shah) to Moora to collaborate with Youth Centre participants on a large mural. Through design workshops and hands‑on painting, young people build creative skills, confidence and teamwork. The mural will reflect youth voices, celebrate diversity and enhance community pride.

Shire of Wongan-Ballidu | Wheatbelt | $5,000
Young Creators Club is a free 20‑week after‑school arts program for young people aged 12–18 in Wongan Hills. Delivered by local artists in partnership with Wongan Hills Therapy Group, it offers inclusive workshops in visual art, textiles, sculpture, mixed media and illustration. The program supports creative confidence, wellbeing and belonging, providing an accessible alternative to sport for diverse and disadvantaged youth.

Geographe French Australian Festivals (Cinnefest Oz) | $4,000 | South West
This project will establish a cultural dance group for Aboriginal young people aged 12–18 in Margaret River, offering weekly workshops that build dance skills, confidence and cultural connection. Led by choreographer Dale Kelly and supported by experienced local partners, the program will develop creative expression, wellbeing and performance skills, culminating in a community showcase at Deadly Day during CinefestOZ.

Albany Light Opera Theatre Company | Great Southern | $4,800 
ALOTCo’s Next Gen Sound and Projection Trainee Programme provides four regional young people aged 15–18 with structured, industry‑aligned technical theatre training from April–November 2026. Led by sound professional Cameron Findlay, trainees receive workshops, production observation and supervised practical experience before independently operating sound and projections for Catch Me If You Can. The program builds confidence, technical skills and long‑term regional theatre capacity.

Shannon Barraclough | Kimberley | $5,000
Broome artist Shannon Barraclough will lead a seven-part textiles workshop for at-risk youth. Participants will explore screen and block printing, experimental drawing, and design, connecting with Country to inspire creativity and wellbeing.

Kellerberrin Community Resource Centre | Wheatbelt | $694.40
A hands-on Acrylic Resin Workshop for youth aged 12–18 will run at Kellerberrin CRC during January holidays. Led by Sheree Lowe, participants will learn resin techniques to create unique items.

Ian Hill | South West | $5,000
Radio Margaret River and Margaret River Senior High School will train students to create 100 short audio segments for FM and online broadcast. Students will research, write, and produce content, gaining media skills while exploring diverse topics.

Shire of Lake Grace | Wheatbelt | $5,000
A youth art program in Lake Grace will offer six workshops led by artist Kerrie Argent, using recycled materials from local waste facilities.

Lisa Clark | Great Southern |$4,350
Kira Clark, 16, leads Storybook Stage Company, creating original theatre with children aged 6–14. Her upcoming production involves 25 performers and 8 teens in backstage roles, mentored by professionals.

Pemberton Community Resource Centre | South West | $5,000

The Pemberton Community Resource Centre will deliver an accessible youth arts program for teens, offering workshops and mentorships with local artists. By removing cost and transportation barriers, the project fosters creativity, skill-building, and community connections through inclusive cultural activities.

Avon Valley Arts Inc. | Wheatbelt | $5,000

Sketchbook Club offers an after-school creative space for youth to explore personal art projects in a relaxed setting. Providing professional materials, it encourages self-expression, peer connections, and wellbeing through unstructured experimentation with drawing, painting, collage, and crafts.

Xanthe Turner | Peel | $4,089.45

This project offers four plein air painting workshops for youth (12-18), building skills from sketching basics to outdoor composition and light studies. Participants receive take-home materials and a pathway to the Plein Air Down Under festival, while fostering youth leadership through peer-led sessions.

Jillian Chrisp | Goldfields-Esperance | $5,000

Studio Rookie offers youth (Years 7–12) a 3-part music production workshop series covering studio setup, recording, and mixing. Using industry-standard equipment, it builds technical skills, fosters collaboration, and inspires creative expression

Balingup Arts and Culture Hub | South West | $5,000

The BACH Winter School offers a 3-day intensive for 15 young singer-songwriters (13-18) in Balingup, mentored by three professional musicians. Participants learn songwriting, recording, and music industry skills, followed by five monthly workshops and a December showcase.

Boyup Brook Community Mental Health Action Team | South West | $3,000

The Boyup Brook Youth Mural project will engage local artist Meri Beatty with up to 30 rural youth, aged 12-18, to design and install a mural on a storage container at the Youth Zone. Participants will enhance their art skills, foster community pride, and contribute to local aesthetics.

Hopetoun Community Resource Centre | Goldfields-Esperance | $3,000

Hopetoun CRC’s Youth Space program for ages 12-18 offers a safe environment for arts, gardening, and socializing. They will host a 3-day Make-A-Movie workshop with Filmbites during the summer holidays, where participants will learn filmmaking skills and create a short film, culminating in a community screening.

Kellerberrin Community Resource Centre | Wheatbelt | $1,599

The Kellerberrin Community Resource Centre will host a terrarium building workshop with Paint the Town during the January 2025 school holidays. This engaging activity will encourage youth to socialize, explore a new art form, and create something to take home, promoting creativity and appreciation for nature across all ages.

Regional Sounds Inc | Mid West | $3,000

The Perpetual Youth Arts Challenge in Jambinu, Geraldton, invites creative youth (12-18) the opportunity to express themselves through various art forms over nine months. Inspired by the Randolph Stow young writers award, participants will engage in workshops led by talented local artists, culminating in a public celebration and exhibition of their original artworks.

Shire of Coolgardie | Goldfields-Esperance | $3,000
Local Kalgoorlie artist Em Anders will conduct a series of painting and resin art workshops for youth in Kambalda and Coolgardie, providing invaluable artistic opportunities. 

Cunderdin Community Resource Centre | Wheatbelt | $2,715
Merredin artist Sheree Lowe will lead four workshops in August called the ‘Regional Renaissance: Cultivating Creativity Cunderdin’, including Special Effects, Paint and Sip (non-alcoholic), Pot Decorating, and Resin Cheeseboard Making, aimed at engaging young residents of Cunderdin. 

Wagin Community Resource Centre | Wheatbelt | $2,661
In collaboration with local artist Anita Longmuir and the Wagin Youth Art Collective, Wagin CRC will offer art classes for local youth from July to December, culminating in a collaborative artwork to publically be displayed. 

Shire of Morawa | Mid-West | $3,000
Geraldton street artist Shah Jackey will facilitate a two-day workshop in July called ‘Galactic Dreamtime Workshop’ where participants, primarily First Nations youth, will have their artworks displayed at the Mid-West NAIDOC event. 

Wheatbelt Arts & Events Inc. | Wheatbelt | $3,000
A collaboration between local community radio station Voice of Avon 101.3 FM, the Ballardong Noongar community, and the wider Wheatbelt/Avon Valley community. This program, ‘York Yarns’ will train 12-18-year-olds in broadcast media, helping them create new radio content and develop their own program slots on the station.