PICA - Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts

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Perth, WA
PICA - Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts

WA's home of contemporary arts. Galleries are open Tuesday – Sunday, 12–5pm.

Our exhibitions are always free.

51 James Street, Perth Cultural Centre
+61 (0) 8 9228 6300

26/05/2026

PICA invites all educators to access 'Looking with Care', a classroom-ready resource in PICA’s Learning through contemporary Aboriginal art. ⁠
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'Looking with Care' uses contemporary Aboriginal artworks to support inquiry, discussion and evidence-based thinking in Western Australian classrooms. Students work with art alongside maps, videos, interviews, exhibition texts and catalogues to investigate perspectives, histories and lived experience, while building skills in observation, interpretation and critical thinking.⁠
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Developed with writer and creative learning specialist Jess Gatt, 'Looking with Care' draws on works from 'All That Country Holds' and 'Revealed' exhibitions currently on at PICA until 14 June.⁠
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Explore the new resource at pica.org.au/online-resources/
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PICA thanks Season Patron, The Ungar Family Foundation for their generous support. The Revealed 2026 exhibition is presented under the custodianship of the Aboriginal Art Centre Hub of Western Australia (AACHWA)—the peak advocacy and resource body for Aboriginal art centres in the state. ⁠
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Image 1: Jan Baljagil Griffiths 'Our Connection' 2025, ‘All That Country Holds’, Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts (PICA), 2026. Photo: Guy Louden⁠
Image 2: Mervyn Street, ‘Hide Story’ 2025, ‘All That Country Holds’, Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts (PICA), 2026. Photo: Guy Louden

18/05/2026

PICA is delighted to present a writers-in-residence collaboration with ARTERY Magazine during this year’s 2026 'Hatched: National Graduate Show'. ⁠
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Four early-career writers will be selected to undertake a month residency in a shared studio at PICA to develop new work to be published in issue #5 of ARTERY Magazine.
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Open now and closing 15 June.
Learn more and apply at pica.org.au/writers-in-residence-with-artery-magazine/
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PICA's Studio Program is made possible thanks to the support of PICA’s Art Ambassadors.

07/05/2026

The 2027 Judy Wheeler Commission call out is now open!
Inviting artists to create a new work that interprets the PICA building and its environment. ⁠Valued at $20,000, the commission is open to artists Australia wide.⁠
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Established to honour the legacy of Judy Wheeler, an enduring lover and supporter of the arts, the commission is made possible by a philanthropic gift by the Simpson Family.⁠
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Learn more and apply at www.pica.org.au
Applications are open until Monday 8 June 2026. ⁠
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Image: Judy Wheeler, courtesy the Simpson family

05/05/2026

Two major commission opportunities are now open!⁠
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PICA is calling for artists across Australia to apply for the 2027 Judy Wheeler Commission and the second annual boorda yeyi Immersive Arts Commission. These are unmissable opportunities to develop ambitious, large-scale work with the support of one of the country’s leading contemporary art spaces.⁠
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There’s over $100,000 in commission funding available across the two opportunities. If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to push your practice further, this is it!⁠
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Applications close Monday 8 June.⁠
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Find out more and apply via www.pica.org.au

30/04/2026

PICA today announced the appointment of Dr Andrew Lu AM as its new Chair, succeeding Mark Clapham after six years of service to the organisation, during which PICA navigated a significant period of transition and renewal.

Mark joined the PICA Board in 2020 and served as Chair from January 2022. During this time, he helped lead the organisation through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, major capital works at PICA’s heritage-listed home in the Perth Cultural Centre, the appointment of a new CEO, and the establishment of a series of advisory groups to better connect the organisation to the communities we serve. Thank you for your leadership and dedication Mark!

Having joined the PICA Board in December 2025, Dr Lu’s appointment comes at a pivotal moment in PICA’s history as we prepare for the completion of the Perth Cultural Precinct rejuvenation and the relaunch of our Performance Space. We are excited to be working with Andrew and advancing PICA into a new era.

Working closely with Hannah Mathews, PICA’s Director/CEO, the PICA Board comprises a group of valued and passionate volunteers. It is an honour to have their guidance and expertise as we continue to build connection, nurture innovation and create sustainable creative pathways for artists, arts workers and arts lovers.

PICA is proud to be the home of contemporary arts in Western Australia.

Photo: 2026 Revealed: New and Emerging WA Aboriginal Artists exhibition delivered under the custodianship of the Aboriginal Arts Centre Hub of Western Australia (AACHWA) – l-r, Dr Andrew Lu AM, Hannah Mathews, Mark Clapham. Artist: Sophia Brown, Pitjantjatjara. Photo: Olivia Pizzale-Bryce

29/04/2026

What you see on the walls and on the stage at PICA is just the tip of the iceberg. Thanks to Lotterywest and Simone McGurk MLA, a $328,477 Lotterywest grant means PICA will upgrade our artist facilities, create an accessible environment for people of all ages, and ensure that the arts in Perth continues to inspire.⁠
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Watch this space for updates on our progress!⁠
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PICA is proud to be the home of contemporary arts in Western Australia.⁠
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Photograph: Rebecca Mansell

25/03/2026

Celebrate the opening of Djeran-Makuru season at PICA! ⁠
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Join us on Friday 17 April, 6–9pm, for PICA After Hours—our reimagined opening night program—featuring a special live performance in the PICA carpark from Kallum Mungulu and his band followed by a closing set from Janga.⁠
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This season invites you to experience the work of new and emerging Aboriginal artists alongside their senior Kimberely elders. With artworks available to purchase, PICA takes no commission, meaning all sales go directly to the artists and communities.⁠
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The performance begins at 7pm – come for the art, stay for the music! First 100 drinks are on the house, paid bar following! ⁠Learn more and register at pica.org.au/whats-on/s2-pica-after-hours-opening-night/
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The season's opening weekend is supported by the PICA's Season Patron, The Ungar Family Foundation and Tourism WA
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PICA’s events are made possible thanks to the support of Picabar and our Community Engagement Partner, City of Perth ⁠
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Poster: Cooper Fare

13/03/2026

A PICA residency gives artists time, space and support to develop new work, experiment, research and connect with peers without needing a final outcome. Open to all artforms, PICA’s Quick Response and Regional Studio Program applications are now open, closing Sunday 29 March.⁠
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Learn more and apply at pica.org.au/opportunities/
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PICA's Studio Program is made possible thanks to the support of PICA’s Art Ambassadors. ⁠
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Poster: Cooper Fare

23/01/2026

Weekends at PICA amplifies the voices of artists and local thinkers, offering audiences the chance to hear directly from creative practitioners about their work, inspirations and the broader themes connecting our programs.⁠
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This season, Weekends at PICA offers tours, artists talks and Flow States, a panel discussion that thinks through the role water plays in our histories, relations and environs.⁠
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Saturday 7 February, 1–5pm | Free⁠
Explore the program at pica.org.au/show-category/events/
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PICA’s events are made possible thanks to our Community Engagement Partner, City of Perth ⁠
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Poster: Cooper Fare

12/01/2026

ARTIST OPPORTUNITY - EOIs for PICA’s boorda yeyi 2026 Foundational Symposium are closing soon!

Held over the weekend of 21 - 22 February at the State Library of Western Australia, this two-day intensive introduces artists to emergent technologies used in immersive arts with a series of hands-on demonstrations and commissioned talks.⁠

This program is free to attend and open to WA artists only. EOIs from regionally based artists are strongly encouraged and travel bursaries will be provided for selected regional participants travelling from remote and regional WA. ⁠

EOIs close Monday 19 January.

Learn more and apply at https://boorda-yeyi.org.au

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Image credit: Edwin Sitt
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Generously supported by the The Ian Potter Foundation, Feilman Foundation and Lotterywest, PICA - Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts boorda yeyi program supports artists to embrace a broad range of cutting-edge technologies to create works that challenge and transform their practice and engage audiences in immersive experiences. The 2026 Foundational Symposium to supported by the State Library of Western Australia.

Address

Perth Cultural Centre, 51 James Street
Perth, WA
6000

Telephone

+61892286300

Website

http://www.pica.org.au/

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