- Seven applicants set to share in $691,060 investment through Regional Aboriginal Arts Development program
- Program provides funding for projects that support the development of Aboriginal artists and the Aboriginal arts and cultural sector in regional Western Australia
- Part of the Cook Labor Government’s Regional Creative Industries Fund
- Cook Labor Government fostering a vibrant and creative economy
The Aboriginal creative sector in Western Australia is being strengthened through a range of storytelling and creative initiatives thanks to a $691,060 investment from the Cook Labor Government.
Seven Aboriginal arts and culture groups from across Western Australia will receive funding to develop new art works and strengthen business development and capacity as part of the Regional Aboriginal Arts Development program.
The recipients for the 2026 Regional Aboriginal Arts Development program are:
- Wardandi Wanil Art Centre in the South West region – $47,185 to develop governance capacity and support the centre in establishing an Art Leadership Group to build foundations for a culturally grounded artist-led centre;
- Magabala Books in the Kimberley region – $50,000 to build business development, participate in trade fairs, and support national and international market engagement to benefit First Nations artists;
- Bidyadanga Aboriginal Community La Grange in the Kimberley region – $50,000 to upgrade a database and website, and engage in digital storytelling and audience development;
- Tjarlirli Art Indigenous Corporation in the Goldfields-Esperance region – $95,361 to deliver silk painting workshops supporting intergenerational learning and create high-quality silk works;
- Warakurna Artists Aboriginal Corporation in the Goldfields-Esperance region – $148,514 to develop and deliver workshops for artists Nola Campbell, Nyungawarra Ward, Nancy Jackson, and Maureen Baker to create high-quality paintings of scale and significance for exhibitions;
- Martumili Artists in the Pilbara region – $150,000 for mid-career artists, Owen Biljabu, Marianne Burton, and Marlene Anderson to create ambitious and bold new works and achieve identified career milestones; and
- Warmun Art Aboriginal Corporation in the Kimberley region – $150,000 to develop a truth-telling project about Gija Joomooloony, a 750-year-old boab tree relocated from Gija Country to Kings Park, culminating in a large-scale audio-visual work.
This funding forms part of the Cook Labor Government’s commitment to regional arts through the Regional Creative Industries Fund.
As stated by Creative Industries Minister Simone McGurk:
“Aboriginal art is recognised globally for its power to connect us with stories from ancient cultures and the contemporary experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
“The Cook Labor Government is proud to support Aboriginal-led art organisations with real opportunities to share stories and boost economic development.
“The Regional Aboriginal Arts Development program connects regional and remote artist communities with development opportunities and audiences in national and international arenas.”
As stated by Regional Development Minister Stephen Dawson:
“The Cook Labor Government is proud to invest in Aboriginal arts and culture as part of our commitment to growing creative industries across regional WA.
“Aboriginal artists are some of Western Australia’s most important storytellers, and this investment, funded through the government’s Royalties for Regions Program, will help ensure their stories, knowledge, and creative practices continue for future generations.”
