News

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.

From today, discerning shoppers around the country will now have the opportunity to own quality products made by WA’s most talented makers as FOUND at Fremantle Arts Centre launches its online store. FOUND has a long and proud tradition of showcasing the best in local design and craftsmanship, stocking Perth’s biggest range of homewares, artwork, jewellery, clothing, textiles, books, toys and gifts made by WA artists and designers.

Despite galleries being closed nationally, Australians will have the opportunity to experience a generous and varied collection of artworks by 120 of the most exciting new and emerging Western Australian Aboriginal artists when Fremantle Arts Centre launches the 2020 Revealed Exhibition online at 9am AWST Wednesday 22 April.

Following the Federal Government’s 13 March announcement on COVID-19 and the ban on public gatherings of more than 500 people we are compelled to make changes to this year’s Revealed program. After discussion with the Department of Local Government, Sports and Cultural Industries, FAC advises that the Revealed Art Market (3 & 4 April) and the Revealed Exhibition Opening Night Event (2 April) have been cancelled.

Fremantle’s two Fire Aid benefit concerts have raised more than $650,000 for fire services, local communities and wildlife protection following the devastating bushfires around Australia. The first Fire Aid concert was held at Fremantle Arts Centre on 31 January featuring John Butler, The Waifs, San Cisco and Stella Donnelly. When the first show sold out in less than an hour a second show was added for 1 February, with Carla Geneve stepping in for Stella Donnelly. The concept for Fire Aid originated from the bands and their manager Phil Stevens, who said it was a direct reaction to the horrendous images of the fires and stories of people’s loss.

Immersive, dark and sometimes hopeful, Fremantle Arts Centre will be transformed into a dystopic doomsday den for the exhibition Preppers, opening Friday 15 November. With global protests, diplomatic unrest and natural disasters reported daily, it seems now more than ever that the plight of humanity is at the forefront of many people’s minds.