Creative industries, WA

🎶 💃 Dancing between her bedroom and an imagined oasis, watch singer‑songwriter Persia Najafzadeh on her journey toward embracing her innermost self.

Australian and Persian influences collide, inspiring new music. The film was created as part of a series of short documentaries celebrating Perth’s outer suburban talent.

Supported through GRID Series Outer Perth, the program backs artists the mainstream too often overlooks, giving them space, support and a platform to be heard.

Persia journey has just been recognised, with Sanctuary Stay winning WAM song of the year 2026 in the Hip‑Hop/RnB category.

Listen to A Portrait of Persia here ➡️ https://linktr.ee/yourgirlpersia?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio

Watch the video here ➡️ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wx4_69ghhCg

Film - A Portrait of Persia (OFFICIAL RELEASE) Dancing between her bedroom and an imagined oasis, we follow singer-songwriter Persia Najafzadeh on her journey toward embracing innermost herself. Her Austr...

🎉 Celebrating excellence, creativity and cultural leadership.

The recipients of the First Nations Arts and Culture Awards 2026 have been announced, recognising outstanding First Nations artists and cultural leaders whose work strengthens communities and enriches arts and culture across Australia.

Held each year on the anniversary of the 1967 referendum and the opening of National Reconciliation Week, the Awards honour lifelong achievement, emerging talent and innovation in First Nations arts and culture.

In 2026, Yawuru singer-songwriter Stephen Pigram has been awarded the Red Ochre Award for Lifetime Achievement in Artistic Excellence, a modern-day Song Man, his work spans music, theatre, and film, carrying Kimberley stories across generations. This Award recognises his enduring influence and impact across generations.

Congratulations to this year’s recipients!

Massive congratulations to the 2026 Song of the Year Grand Prize winners. 🎶👏

More than 800 original songs were submitted to WAM’s 2026 Song of the Year from artists across Western Australia.

The response shows the strength, diversity and resilience of WA’s music scene, with emerging and established songwriters represented across a wide range of genres.

A new category, Feel It Write It, was introduced this year to recognise songs that explore emotional wellbeing, connection and shared human experiences.

Songwriters were celebrated at an awards presentation held this week, marking another strong year for the State’s flagship songwriting competition.

The WA Government has supported WAM for more than 30 years, helping to back WA artists and the local music community.

See the 2026 winners here: ➡️ https://wam.org.au/2026/05/28/2026-song-of-the-year-winners-revealed/

Have you spotted this year’s National Reconciliation Week street banners? 🖤💛❤️

From 27 May to 3 June, National Reconciliation Week is a time for all Australians to reflect on our shared histories, recognise Aboriginal culture and achievements, and consider how we can contribute to reconciliation.

Across WA, hundreds of street banners are now flying, supported by organisations and local governments who want to actively show their support for reconciliation.

The WA Government is proud to support the project in partnership with Reconciliation WA.

This year’s banners feature artwork by Western Australian Aboriginal artist Melissa Sunfly, a proud Kukatja/Ngardi woman, with her work on display in communities right across the State.

If you see the banners this week, take a moment to look up and reflect on what reconciliation means to you.

https://www.recwa.org.au/what-is-reconciliation/street-banner-program/

🎶 Step into the story of a young artist finding his place 🌊

GRID Series Outer Perth Artist Development Program shines a light on musicians carving out their own space. Through mentoring, song development, recording sessions, live performance opportunities and video content, including a short film, the program supports artists from Perth’s outer suburbs to grow and be seen.

James Quinton, AKA JAE-Q, reflects on growing up, navigating loss, family and belonging. Writing, recording, performing and reflecting all unfold together, showing how music can build confidence, strengthen identity and open new pathways for young people in our community 🎧✨

🎥 Watch JAE-Q’s journey and step into his world
🔗 https://youtu.be/aI6qQjGwWvw

Communities

JAEQ - GRID Series Outer Perth (private use only) Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

🖤 Stories to be heard, remembered and shared.

Ngaluk Waangkiny, meaning ‘Us Talking’ in Noongar, is an exhibition that brings together powerful multimedia stories from ten respected Elders from Boorloo. Through truth telling, reflection and resilience, this landmark exhibition honors lived experience and preserves cultural knowledge for future generations.

📅 2 July – 3 August 2026
🕙 Monday to Friday, 10:00 am to 4:00pm

This project is supported by the WA Government through the Regional Exhibition Touring Boost, and delivered by Community Arts Network and ART ON THE MOVE.

🔗 Find out more: https://artonthemove.art/exhibition/ngaluk-waangkiny/

🎉🖌️ The West Australian Pulse is now open at The Art Gallery of Western Australia - AGWA, celebrating the talent, ideas and perspectives of young artists from across the state.

This annual exhibition takes the pulse of young people who will influence, empower and shape the world we live in, offering the community a chance to connect with emerging voices through art and creativity.

📅 The exhibition is free to visit and runs until 13 September.



🔗 Find out more and plan your visit
https://artgallery.wa.gov.au/whats-on/exhibitions/the-west-australian-pulse-2026/

Come and explore the many works in The West Australian Pulse 2026 exhibition with our Voluntary Gallery Guides.

Learn about these emerging artists, what influenced their work and share stories of your own.

WA’s talented young artists are celebrated in this yearly showcase, gauging the pulse of young people who will influence, impact and shape the world we live in.

This year’s exhibition celebrates 34 years and features 63 works by 2025 Year 12 Visual Arts graduates from 43 schools across WA.

11 am Saturdays and 12 pm Sundays from 16 May 2026
FREE

--

Georgia Curtis. Echoes of Excess, 2025. Oil, newsprint, fabric, pins, thread and plastic on canvas, 91 x 61 x 3.8 cm. Sacred Heart College. Photo: Christophe Canato

Inspiring readers, writers and communities across the South West 📖🌿

Western Australia’s largest regional literary festival, the Margaret Rivers Readers and Writers Festival, runs from the 15-17 May 2026, continuing to connect communities through storytelling, ideas and imagination.

Delivered by Arts Margaret River, the festival is supported by the WA Government through Arts Projects for Organisations, the Regional Arts and Cultural Investment Program and Regional Arts Sector Investment, helping deliver events across Margaret River and Busselton and 2 weeks of free activities for children, young people and the community.

From author talks and workshops to performances and book launches, the festival creates accessible cultural experiences that inspire a lifelong love of reading and writing.


🔗Find out more about the festival here: https://www.cits.wa.gov.au/department/news/news-article/2026/05/14/wa-government-supports-2026-chapter-of-margaret-river-readers-writers-festival

🎨 Calling WA creatives in mining and resources!

If you’re a creative working across resource related industries this is for you.

From VR training and 3D modelling to design, architecture, advertising and corporate communications, creative practitioners play a vital role in Western Australia’s mining and resources sector.

Share your experiences. You’ll be helping to build a stronger picture of how creativity supports jobs, innovation and economic growth across WA, and helping shape better support for creative workers into the future.

👉 Take the anonymous survey here: https://tinyurl.com/mus74uhc

ARE YOU A CREATIVE PRACTITIONER WORKING MINING AND RESOURCES IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA?

You might be involved in creating VR training modules, 3D modelling and plans, design, architecture, advertising, corporate communications or digital content – just to name a few.

WE WANT TO LEARN ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCES WORKING THESE JOBS

Your input will help support creative workers and will build understanding about the contribution creativity makes to WA's economy.

Take the anonymous survey by following the link or scanning the QR code below:
https://tinyurl.com/mus74uhc