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Regional Arts WA Published on Tuesday 29 July 2025 Tuesday 29 July 2025

Media Statement: Minderoo Foundation and Regional Arts WA Announce Landmark $3.3 Million Partnership.

A transformational three-year collaboration to support Western Australia’s regional creative industries and communities to thrive.

In a landmark move that promises to strengthen the local creative sector and connect the vibrant communities of regional Western Australia, Minderoo Foundation and Regional Arts WA have announced a $3.3 million three-year partnership. This investment supports the delivery of the Thrive! Arts, Culture & Creativity Investment Framework 2025-2029 (Thrive).

Launched in August 2024, Thrive is Regional Arts WA’s sector development strategy that focuses on boosting regional vibrancy by supporting, strengthening and promoting Western Australia’s regional arts and cultural organisations. This new strategic partnership marks a notable enhancement of the shared commitment to champion innovative approaches that support artists, creative workers and organisations in regional and remote communities across Western Australia, ensuring they have the resources and opportunities to thrive.

“We believe in the transformative power of the arts to connect, inspire, and uplift communities, especially in regional Western Australia,” Nicola Forrest AO said.

“Through Thrive, Minderoo is proud to support a strategy that will expand access, deepen participation, and ensure that regional voices continue to shape the cultural landscape of our state.”

The partnership builds on a successful collaboration that began in 2019, with the establishment of the Regional Arts Network in partnership with The Ian Potter Foundation and Minderoo Foundation, and with support from the Australian Government. The initiative fosters collaboration and exchange among creative workers through a state-wide network of 20 not-for-profit regional arts and cultural organisations – critical enablers of community connection and vibrancy, local jobs, cross-sector partnerships and homegrown creative products and services.

Together, these organisations generate an annual turnover of more than $19 million, employ over 207 creative workers and 1,200 artists, and engage more than 2,000 volunteers each year. Their reach extends well beyond their home bases, delivering diverse creative programs and services across regional, rural, and remote communities in 44 of Western Australia’s Local Government Areas.

“Minderoo Foundation is backing the Thrive Framework to help build more vibrant and connected communities across regional Western Australia,” Minderoo Foundation CEO John Hartman said.

“This partnership is about strategically aligning resources and amplifying impact to give the regional arts sector and artists the long-term support they need to thrive.”

Representatives from the Network collectively expressed their enthusiasm for the new partnership; “The Regional Arts Network knows firsthand that the arts contribute to community vibrancy, local job creation, and wellbeing. This funding ensures that we will strengthen our capacity of 20 organisations across the state and build long-term sustainability for creatives who are the cultural backbone of our communities.”

As the peak body for arts in regional Western Australia, Regional Arts WA brings proven capability in its commitment to regional communities. “This strategic partnership represents a pivotal moment for regional arts in Western Australia. Minderoo Foundation’s investment is a timely and powerful endorsement of sustained, place-based arts development that supports the people, skills, and creative capacity that underpin vibrant regional communities.” said Dr Pilar Kasat, CEO of Regional Arts WA.

“It will enable us to explore new models of funding and support, and to build a more adaptive, inclusive, and resilient arts ecosystem. This is the beginning of something much bigger and an open invitation for others to help shape and strengthen the future impact of the regional arts sector.”

Regional Arts WA’s distinctive decentralised structure enables deep regional engagement and targeted support where it’s most needed. “Regional Arts WA has an unwavering commitment to regional creative development and this significant funding has positioned us as the trusted leader for arts in Western Australia’s regions,” said Josephine Johnson, Chair of the organisation’s Board of Directors.

“We encourage others including the WA State Government, philanthropists and the corporate sector to deepen their support for the regional arts sector. By nurturing a thriving creative ecology, we can ensure Western Australia’s regional communities remain vibrant, resilient, and culturally rich, which in turn benefits residents, businesses, and visitors for generations to come.”

Minderoo Foundation’s investment directly addresses the challenges facing the regional creative industries with over 70% of funding strategically directed towards industry connection, capacity building and to pilot a new Creative Collaboration Fund (CCF) that aims to accelerate statewide community impact.

Led by Regional Arts WA, the CCF will adopt a cross-sector co-investment model to strengthen the creative sector, ensuring that investment reflects the aspirations of Western Australia’s growing and diverse regional communities, while fostering the long-term sustainability of local organisations.