Funding to improve cultural experiences in 10 regional galleries

• 10 regional Western Australian galleries receive more than $270,000 funding from Public Regional Galleries Improvement Fund (PRGIF)
• PRGIF offers grants of up to $25,000 for minor upgrades and $100,000 for major upgrades to regional galleries in WA
• Program improves access to high-quality arts and cultural experiences for regional audiences and increase the capacity of public galleries to host touring exhibitions

The latest culture and arts funding announcement from the Cook Government will see 10 regional public galleries in Western Australia receive more than $270,000 in funding for upgrades and support.

Projects receiving Public Regional Galleries Improvement Fund (PRGIF) funding include a $50,000 art illumination in the Goldfields and a gallery fit-out in Morawa.

The program is delivered as part of the Regional Exhibition Touring Boost (RETB). It offers $25,000 for minor upgrades or procurement of equipment with minimal technical requirements, and up to $100,000 for projects which require major changes to existing venue infrastructure or systems.

Installation of new equipment and infrastructure, including lighting, visual interfaces such as graphic displays and other state-of-the-art gallery features, will help ensure regional audiences can enjoy high-quality art facilities.

This funding will also improve the capacity of the funded galleries to receive touring exhibitions, ensuring a better equality of access to cultural experiences across WA.

Projects funded include:

• Arts Narrogin Inc. - Arts Space Gallery Upgrades ($38,714);          
• Shire of Broome - Exhibition Infrastructure for Kimberley artwork ($69,788);
• Goldfields Arts Centre - City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder - Enlighten: Illuminating the Artistic Excellence ($50,005);
• Mandurah Performing Arts Inc. - ManPAC Gallery Lighting, Audio, Signage and Display Upgrade ($14,573);
• Southern Forest Arts Inc. - 2024 Painted Tree Gallery upgrade ($8,532);
• Shire of Morawa - Morawa Art Space - Gallery Fit Out ($24,836);   
• Shire of Manjimup - All About the Art ($18,389);      
• Collie Gallery Group Inc. - Major Equipment Upgrade ($20,663);    
• Contemporary Art Spaces Mandurah - City of Mandurah - CASM Signage Upgrade and Gallery Facade Improvement ($18,730); and
• Shire of Katanning - second stage of upgrade of lighting system in gallery ($13,710).       

Visit the DLGSC website to learn more: https://www.dlgsc.wa.gov.au/funding/arts-funding/public-regional-galleries-improvement-fund

Comments attributed to Culture and the Arts Minister David Templeman:

"Having state-of-the-art facilities is so important to people's enjoyment of, and ability to access, public art galleries right around WA.

"Regional communities provide so much to our cultural landscape - it's only fair that they should expect a high standard of public art experiences."

Comments attributed to Regional Development Minister Don Punch:

"This much needed injection of funding in supporting our regional public galleries will go a long way to ensuring their long-term sustainability, while also generating employment for the many skilled technical workers across WA."