News

In spite of all the challenges of the past twelve months – major events cancelled, strict travel restrictions and art centre closures – WA’s Aboriginal artists continue to create an amazing array of quality artworks, and programs like Revealed, which connect these artists with new audiences, have never been more important. Revealed celebrates the vitality and diversity of Aboriginal artistic practice in Western Australia through an exhibition, online art market and two days of professional development workshops specifically tailored for Aboriginal artists and Art Centre staff.

Angela Ferolla has had a long relationship with Fremantle Arts Centre. She’s been a popular tutor for 15 years – teaching adults and kids a range of textile-related skills from sewing machine basics to screen printing – and has been part of FAC’s install crew for the last two years. For A Forest of Hooks and Nails Angela pays homage to the ancient flora that would have grown on the site we now know as Fremantle Arts Centre before the building was erected.

For this year's Perth Festival FAC presents A Forest of Hooks and Nails, an exhibition of new works which sees FAC's install crew become the artists. Creating new artworks specific to the building's history, architecture and their experiences working behind the scenes, the exhibition is rich and varied.  We're catching up with some of the artists to find out more about their practice, kicking off with Rob Kettels. For A Forest of Hooks and Nails Rob has filled Gallery 3 with 2.5 tonnes of rock salt for his work Mineral Rites, painting out the space with a dreamy pink gradient which we know visitors are going to love.

Fremantle Arts Centre’s 2021 Perth Festival exhibition, A Forest of Hooks and Nails, sees the organisation’s install team, a crew of talented multidisciplinary artists juggling casual work while establishing their own practices, step into the spotlight and present new works which explore FAC’s galleries, iconic building and colourful history with their unique insider knowledge. Opening 6:30pm Wednesday 3 February, A Forest of Hooks and Nails is curated by FAC Install Coordinator Tom Freeman and features ten WA artists working across a variety of media including screenprinting, largescale installation, video and audio work, interactive displays, small sculpture, photography, painting and animation.

Fremantle Arts Centre’s Bazaar, Perth’s highest quality Christmas maker’s market, returns to the port city Friday 4 – Sunday 6 December. In a year where buying local and supporting Western Australian industry has never been more important, Bazaar offers 50 local designers, artists and craftspeople the chance to showcase their wares and connect with the public at the three-day event.

City of Fremantle is delighted to announce the appointment of internationally renowned arts leader Anna Reece as Fremantle Arts Centre Director. Anna will bring her innovative, strategic and dynamic leadership style to FAC. With over 15 years’ experience across the Australian not-for-profit arts and cultural sectors, with a focus in major multi-arts festivals, Anna is highly respected for her commitment to commissioning new Australian work and leading capacity development across the sector.

Following a successful start to the season, Fremantle Arts Centre is excited to announce a brand new batch of Sunday Music acts to round out 2020. November and December highlights include the high pop energy of Soukouss Internationale’s Queency (8 Nov), the jazz and Persian stylings of Kate Pass Kohesia Ensemble (22 Nov), novelist and songwriter Sam Carmody alongside iconic duo The Money War (29 Nov) and Grace Barbé’s (13 Dec) blend of afrobeat, reggae and pop.

Three rising stars of Australian art boldly reclaim the representation of women’s bodies through a series of defiant and at times humorous artworks which simultaneously acknowledge and critique the influences of popular culture and mainstream beauty standards, in Bodywork – Fremantle Art Centre’s new exhibition. Opening 6:30pm Friday 25 September, Bodywork brings together for the first time Kaylene Whiskey (SA), Amber Boardman (NSW) and Tarryn Gill (WA). Featuring contorted soft sculptures, a video collage of female celebrity icons and fleshy paintings, Bodywork explores ideas connected to body modification, self-expression and female empowerment.

Fremantle Arts Centre’s long-serving Director Jim Cathcart today announced his resignation. Director since October 2005, Jim has led the growth and expansion of every aspect of Fremantle Arts Centre’s operations. City of Fremantle, Manager of Arts and Culture Kathryn Taylor commented “The local, state-wide and national credibility and success Fremantle Arts Centre enjoys today is largely due to Jim’s leadership. Driven by Jim’s ambition for the organisation Fremantle Arts Centre has evolved into a vibrant and relevant arts organisation simultaneously committed to artists and audience.” Mr Cathcart’s last day will be Friday 4 September.

Ninuku Arts is a wholly-Indigenous owned and governed art centre which supports artists from two communities – Pipalyatjara and Kalka. Each have populations of around 100-150 Anangu people and the majority are Pitjantjatjara speakers. Anangu means ‘people’ in Pitjantjatjara. Both communities are located in the far north western corner of South Australia, near the tri-state border of South Australia, Western Australia and Northern Territory. The art centre prides itself on its inclusivity by providing opportunities for all generations and embracing individuality in artists. For the Revealed Exhibition, four artists with vastly different artistic styles have been selected – Selinda Davidson, Judy Miller, Rita Watson & Cassaria Young-Hogan.