Regional Arts WA

Conversations & Events

We provide support to the artists, creative workers and organisations across WA’s regions. Here’s what is coming up. More to come – keep an eye out on our socials.

Upcoming Events

28 February 2025 - Arts & Accessibility Panel Discussion

Regional Arts WA is joined by The Junction Co., Disability in the Arts, Disadvantage in the Arts, Australia (DADAA), and Kariyarra (Port Hedland) based artist Paulette Jadzinski, with her regional Disability Carer Jane Bolton for an insightful discussion about the importance and nuances of arts accessibility in regional spaces and programming. The conversation will be led by Anwen Handmer, Regional Arts Australia Board Director and artist living with a physical disability.

The Junction Co. recently partnered with DADAA to develop Arts Access 101, a user-friendly guide that offers practical steps for improving program accessibility for individuals with disabilities. In this discussion, we’ll explore the resource, share ideas for improving accessibility in spaces and programs, highlight key accessibility initiatives, and hear Paulette’s inspiring journey as a creative practitioner living with a disability.

-Friday 28 February, 1pm – 2pm

Registrations via Zoom

If you are attending the online conversation and require a Auslan interpreter or have any other accessibility needs, please contact Regional Arts WA directly on 08 9200 6200 by Monday 24 February.

Panellists:

Anwen Handmer, Facilitator

Paulette Jadzinski, Local Port Hedland artist living with a disability

Jane Bolton, Local Port Hedland carer

DADAA – Julie Barratt, Director of Arts Strategy and Jacqueline Homer, Access Program Producer

The Junction Co. – Valeria Scoponi, Regional Manager,

Regional Arts WA – Gemma Robins, Network Coordinator (Host)

About Anwen Handmer
A graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD), Company Directors Course, Anwen’s skills are in the arts, and in NDIS service delivery. Anwen is an advocate for diversity and inclusion. She has designed and delivered diversity and inclusion education programs and delivered public presentations on disability and empowerment as a keynote speaker and panel member. As a visual artist, Anwen received international recognition for her work. When she could no longer paint due to disability, she began working in the disability sector. Anwen now writes and performs original songs for piano and vocals to satisfy the need to create. Anwen is currently a Director at Regional Arts Australia.

About DADAA
For nearly 30 years, DADAA has been at the forefront of disability arts in Western Australia. From arts mentoring and workshops through to collaborating with disadvantaged communities on large scale projects, providing access to arts and culture for people with disability is at the heart of everything we do. DADAA aspire to be a voice of ambition, daring, and innovation. To challenge preconceptions and perceptions, think differently and freely, and create great art – art that changes people’s lives.
www.dadaa.org.au

About The Junction Co.
The Junction Co. is an innovative, Pilbara-based arts organisation with a clear vision to engage, grow and empower regional creative industries. We deliver a raft of programs to the Pilbara community, online, at partner locations across the region, and through the Port Hedland Courthouse Gallery+Studio, a regional gallery we manage on behalf of the Town of Port Hedland. Junction Co. team is made up of creative entrepreneurs, artists, strategists, graphic designers, place activators, facilitators, teachers and lovers of craft who seek to actively improve community membership and engagement, encourage a balance of work and play, improve liveability of local communities and assist in strengthening the Pilbara identity.
thejunctionco.com.au

About Paulette Jadzinski
Paulette Jadzinski is a vibrant emerging artist hailing from Port Hedland, Western Australia. Her artistic practice is deeply rooted in the diverse tapestry of her surroundings, drawing inspiration from the people in her daily life in Port Hedland, her love for her career, Jane Bolton, and finding creative resonance in the artistry of singer Selena Gomez.

Paulette actively participates in our COLOURS workshops hosted at the Makers Space in the Courthouse Gallery. Through her attendance, she engages in the process of creating, contributing a unique perspective and energy to the artistic community.

Her works are a testament to the fusion of personal connections, local influences, and the magnetic pull of global pop culture, creating a captivating narrative within the realm of contemporary art. As a multidisciplinary artist, Paulette continues to explore and evolve her creative expression, making her a noteworthy presence in the emerging art scene.

Paulette recently won the Parton Award at The Jury Art Prize in 2024 for her artwork, Val.

Regional Online Chats Archive

August 2024 - Regional Online Chat | Upcoming Funding Opportunities

Restream the Regional Online Chat where Regional Arts WA discusses upcoming funding opportunities with Jill Brown from the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries (Culture and the Arts) to chat with Regional Arts WA Investment Coordinator Carla Steele about upcoming funding opportunities, including:

DLGSC Arts Activities in Regional Communities program
RAF Project Fund and other Regional Arts WA funding available

Whether you’re an artist, a community organisation, or simply curious – this is perfect way to find out about funding opportunities available to regional WA.

More information about the Arts Activities in Regional Communities program: https://www.dlgsc.wa.gov.au/…/arts-activities-in…

More information about RAF Project fund: https://regionalartswa.org.au/funding/raf-project-grants/

May 2024 - Beyond the Performance: 'The Shorebirds Quest' Online Panel

Beyond the Performance: ‘The Shorebirds Quest’ Online Panel was held online on the 21 May 2024.

Discover the magic behind The Shorebird Quest – a breath-taking romantic-comedy musical celebration of Roebuck Bay’s migratory shorebirds that captivated an audience of 3000 on Rubibi’s (Broome) Town Beach mudflats in 2019, and then a triumphant return four years later in 2023.

The Shorebird Quest presented a blend of original music scores, school choirs, over 300 puppets, captivating storytelling, and vibrant dance. It was brought to life through collaborations spanning Theatre Kimberley, Broome Bird Observatory, Parks and Wildlife Services’ Yawuru Rangers, Nyamba Buru Yawuru Country Managers, seven Broome schools, and the local community, it a standout among the state’s collaborative community projects.

This online event was a special opportunity to unpack the creative processes from some of the projects’ creative leads. The online panel explored the complexities and learnings of creating, collaborating, and delivering one of the biggest collaborative community projects in the region.

2023 Promo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdebXb-jKJc

April 2024 - Creative Connections - Exploring Community Arts and Cultural Development with Regional Arts

Restream Regional Arts WA’s online conversation held on the 26 March 2024 with three accomplished regional artists, Chloe Flockart, Lex Randolph, Janine Oxenham as they delve into the nuances and connection between arts practice and community.

Resources mentioned in the chat –

Mentoring opportunities:

National mentoring for socially engaged art at Situate Art in Festivals: https://www.situate.org.au/home-2

Public Liability Insurance for artists:

Duck for Cover: https://www.duckforcover.com.au/html/
Artsource Membership: https://www.artsource.net.au/Member-Services/Membership/MAX-Membership
NAVA membership: https://visualarts.net.au/Membership/insurance/

Mental health support for artists:

Chamber for Arts and Culture membership: https://www.cacwa.org.au/resources/mental-health-and-wellbeing-support-hub
Support Act (performing artists): https://supportact.org.au
If you work for or conduct research at a university, even in a temporary or part-time capacity, and even if you’re not currently teaching, you can use your staff ID number to access the Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
Creative Recovery Network for resources: https://creativerecovery.net.au/initiatives-and-resources/creating-well/

March 2024 - Regional Online Chat with Lotterywest | An Introduction to the Community Impact Hub

Regional Arts WA sat down with Melanie Bainbridge, Senior Manager of Knowledge & Insights at Lotterywest and had a chat about the Western Australian Community Impact Hub – a free, digital platform containing tools, data, and resources to support organisations to evidence grant outcomes and communicate powerful impact narratives.

The Community Impact Hub connects the Lotterywest Community Investment Framework priority areas to a holistic focus on wellbeing and social impact. This Regional Online Chat introduced the three core functions of the Community Impact Hub– Understand your community, Learn from others, and Plan your project.

February 2024 - RASI (Regional Arts Sector Investment) 2024-27 Funding Application Workshop

Join RAWA staff members; Carla Steele, Catherine Driver and Hannah Chambers as they share important information about the RASI program and the application process, followed by Q&A with participants. The 2024-2027 application RASI round is now closed.

February 2024 - State Government Arts Funding (Arts Activities in Regional Communities program)

Regional Arts WA chats with Jill Brown and Alison Archer from the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries (Culture and the Arts) about the Arts Activities in Regional Communities program and the recent changes in the Department’s other funding programs.

November 2021 - 10 Tips for Writing in Plain English

Regional Arts WA Intern Matylda Bejger talks about how to increase accessibility and inclusivity through language.

In this video we look at the 10 Tips to writing in plain English (including bonus reference websites!)

August 2021 - DLGSC Funding Opportunities

Regional Arts WA chats to representatives from the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries (Culture and the Arts) about a number of open funding rounds currently available.

In this video we learn more about:

Regional Remote Festivals Fund
Community Participation and Inclusion Program
Leveraged Creative and Cultural Planning Program

And get the latest updates on:

Creative Communities COVID-19 Recovery Program (collaboration round)
Getting The Show Back on the Road+ program (new program)

For more information on these funding opportunities, head over to the Culture and the Arts website.

April 2021 - Next Level Regional Grant Alumni Chat

The Regional Arts WA team chat to two young artists about their experiences as Next Level Regional Grant recipients, what it’s like working in regional WA, and how they have taken their arts practice to the Next Level.

We are joined by Rita Bush, a 2017 alumni, discussing her experience working on her dance theatre project and the opportunities that have come since and Sita Bennett, a 2020 participant, talking about the application process and work on her current projects in writing and film.

The Next Level Regional Grants are open to artists and arts workers between 18 and 26 years old. Individuals can apply for up to $7,500 and all artforms are eligible. Read more about the Next Level Regional Grant on our funding page.

This project is part of the Regional Arts and Culture Investment Program, supported by the State Government’s Royalties for Regions Program.
Next Level Regional Grants are presented by Drug Aware.

February 2021 - RAF Project Grant Tips and Q&A

The Regional Arts WA team delve into the details of the Regional Arts Fund (RAF) Project Grant and answer questions from regional artists and arts workers keen to apply. Read more about the RAF Project Grant on our funding page.

Funding programs open and close throughout the year – so be sure to check the funding page linked above to see what is currently available. If you require any support to make an application or have further questions, feel free to contact us.

October 2020 - Recovery and Resilience Funding Tips and Q&A

Our staff are back to help answer all your burning funding questions – this time covering the Relief and Resilience grants currently available over on our funding page.

September 2020 - Fringe World Regional Touring (with Ruth and Alyssia from the Fringe World Festival)

Ruth and Alyssia from the Fringe World Festival team have come to chat shop with us about getting Fringe shows into the regions!

Fringe World Festival is an open access arts festival that takes place in WA during January / February every year. This year, there were over 700 shows in the Festival comprising of comedy, music, circus and children’s in venues throughout Perth and the Metro regions.

In 2021, we want to encourage artists to tour their show to Regional WA and we want to help connect Fringe artists with regional presenters!

In this Regional Arts WA Online Chat you can find out more about the Festival, the types of shows that you can connect with and how you can register to host your very own Fringe shows. If you’re looking for programming for the start of 2021, Fringe World Festival can help.

August 2020 - Relief and Resilience Grants Applications Tips and Q&A

Regional Arts Resilience Grants up to $15,000 are now available for application – any questions? Well, we’ve got some good news for you: This video might just have the answers you seek!

The Regional Arts WA team dive into the nitty gritty of our latest grant programs and answer some burning questions from regional artists and arts workers keen to apply.

Click here for more information on our currently available funding.

September 2020 - Diversifying Income Streams and Building Cash Reserves (with Julian Canny from Euphorium and Annette Carmichael)

Annette Carmichael and Euphorium Co-Founder Julian Canny cover the importance of diversifying income streams and building cash reserves for regional organisations. A Revenue Planning Toolkit was also developed as part of webinar.

This webinar and toolkit was part of the Regional Arts Sector Investment program provided through Regional Arts and Culture Investment Program with support of the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries, with Royalties for Regions funding from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.

May 2020 - Governance and Post-Iso Thoughts (with Patrick Moriarty from Our Community)

Patrick Moriarty from Our Community joins us for this Regional Online Chat about how we emerge from isolation.

Patrick weighs in on your questions and joins a discussion about what boards and managers can do to take stock of where their organisation is at in the wake of recent challenges, and how we go about laying down tracks towards a post-isolation scenario.

May 2020 - Lotterywest COVID-19 Grants (with Nikki Miller from Lotterywest)

Our topic of conversation this week was Lotterywest’s COVID-19 relief grants, so who better to talk to than Nikki Miller, Senior Grants Policy Officer at Lotterywest? We hope this archive is a useful tool in seeking out grants that could help you or your community during this challenging time.

Since the chat, Nikki has clarified that:

You can put an estimated figure of your request to the Resilient Organisations Program in your Event Cancellation Application so you can submit your Event Cancellation Application. Lotterywest will reconcile the amount, if necessary, when they receive your Resilient Organisation Application. Question at 24.59.
Local Government authorities are eligible to apply for Lotterywest’s Crisis and Emergency Relief fund but they are not eligible to apply for the Event Cancellation Relief or Sector Support for Resilient Organisations.

For further information contact Lotterywest.

May 2020 - Steering your organisations through COVID-19 (with Paul MacPhail from Regional Arts WA)

Our CEO Paul MacPhail facilitated a conversation and information sharing on how to navigate through these tricky times, including touching on how to work with Boards/AGMs in times of crisis, Government relief packages, employment and contracts and Regional Arts WA’s response to COVID-19.