News

Fremantle Arts Centre is on the precipice of an exciting new creative era with the appointment of nationally celebrated curator Glenn Iseger-Pilkington to the role of Curator Visual Arts. Renowned for his deep respect and curiosity for artists, Glenn – a Nhanda & Nyoongar man – brings 15 years’ experience working with First Nations artists across Australia. Chosen following a highly competitive national selection process, FAC Director Anna Reece said Glenn stood out for his bold approach and sophisticated values-led creative ethos.

The Fremantle Arts Centre Print Award – Australia’s longest-running and most prestigious printmaking award – returns in 2021, showcasing works of remarkable breadth and poignancy from emerging, mid-career and cross disciplinary visual artists. After a year’s hiatus due to COVID, the 45th FAC Print Award was welcomed with open arms by the sector, attracting 262 entries from across the country.

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.

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.

Look at Fremantle through the lens of designers who live and create in the port city, in Fremantle Art Centre’s upcoming exhibition DesignFreo: Object, Space, Place. Opening 6:30pm Friday 27 November, the work of some of WA’s finest designers brings into focus the significance of design in our everyday lives and its connection to place and community.

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.

Sunday Music returns to Fremantle Arts Centre with a stellar line-up of WA’s best musicians. Running 2–4pm every Sunday from October through to March, visitors can enjoy a handpicked selection of local music acts in the beautiful surrounds of FAC’s South Lawn.

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.