Open Borders

Regional Arts WA

This story was submitted by a member of the regional arts sector: Fiona Sinclair, Southern Forest Arts. We love sharing stories from the sector. If you want to find out how to submit your own stories, take a look at the submit your story page. We can’t wait to hear from you!

Regional WA is opening its borders to new ideas and experiences through a series of interconnected art exhibitions, performances and a short film developed by artists living across twelve diverse communities scattered across the State.

The Open Borders regional events series is a unique initiative of The Creative Grid – a collective of like-minded arts organisations that collaborate on projects seeding, sharing and promoting regional creativity.

Six people stand in front of a wooden artwork. Image: Arboretum artists pictured at the opening event (L-R) : Peter Hill, Alex Tandy, Donna Fortescue, Catherine Higham, Ned Crossley, Monique Tippett. Photo by Peter Tippett.

Commencing in Geraldton in July this year, the series of activities unfolds each month until May 2023. Participating communities include: Geraldton, Broome, Dwellingup, Denmark, Esperance, Carnamah, Kununurra, Port Hedland, Ravensthorpe, Kalgoorlie, Northcliffe, Narrogin, Margaret River and Gascoyne Junction.

A selection of work from each region will be showcased in a proposed survey exhibition at the prestigious John Curtin Gallery in Perth in August-October.

Inspired by Western Australia’s unique experience of containment during the Covid-19 pandemic, ‘Open Borders’ prompts state-wide reflection upon the role of borders, and their impact upon our lives.

The central theme was developed by Albany-based curator Annette Davis. Each participating community has reinterpreted the core idea through the unique landscapes, histories and experiences of ‘their’ own far-flung places.

Current exhibitions in the series include: