Eleven regional art galleries from Beverley to Port Hedland have been awarded $346,000 through the second round of the McGowan Government's Public Regional Galleries Improvement Fund.
The funding, which is administered by Art On The Move through the Regional Exhibition Touring Boost (RETB), provides regional galleries in Western Australia with improved capacity and infrastructure to host visual art exhibitions and artist activities.
The Public Regional Galleries Improvement Fund will continue to create more opportunities for regional Western Australians to engage with visual arts, by increasing the ability of regional galleries to support more touring exhibitions in regional towns and communities.
Cannery Arts Centre in Esperance has remarked how the RETB funding has supported "one of the most captivating and popular exhibitions we have ever had".
The RETB is an $8 million election commitment and is delivered by Art On The Move and the Art Gallery of WA, is managed by the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries, and supported by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.
The 2021 grants round resulted in funding to the following 11 organisations across regional WA:
- The Bank Gallery, Carnamah;
- Beverley Station Arts, Beverley;
- Cannery Arts Centre, Esperance;
- Carnarvon Library & Gallery, Carnarvon;
- Collie Art Gallery, Collie;
- Courthouse Gallery and Studio, Port Hedland;
- Manjimup Gallery, Manjimup;
- Martumili Artists, Newman;
- Painted Tree Gallery, Northcliffe;
- Rose de Freycinet Gallery, Denham; and
- Sandalwood Gallery, York.
As stated by Culture and the Arts Minister David Templeman:
"Western Australia's regional communities will have the chance to engage with new visual art exhibitions, bringing creative growth and building a healthy and vibrant place to live.
"This funding boosts the regional visual arts sector, bringing the opportunity for more people to see the unique perspectives of our high-calibre Western Australian artists."
As stated by Regional Development Minister Alannah MacTiernan:
"These upgrades create local employment and job opportunities, and ensure that galleries have the capacity to safely host valuable touring exhibitions.
"This important infrastructure gives regional towns a creative hub, providing cultural and economic benefits and giving a place for artists to show their work."
