CAN WA is a peak body in Western Australia for community arts and cultural development.

What is cultural development? Well, we believe that cultural development is the process of developing and giving voice to the values of a community. We ask: How do you live? Why? Who is included and excluded from your community? How can that be changed for the better? CAN WA supports ventures that promote the unique identity of social groups. To see examples of some of the projects that we have worked with, go to the Projects section of our site.

CAN WA does not limit itself to involvement with projects that are exclusively or typically ‘artistic’. We are interested in ventures that connect with issues outside the arts. Some of these issues include health, Indigenous self-determination and environmental awareness. We seek projects with breadth and depth, with substance and style. We are particularly focused on projects that are ‘process-driven’, where the experience of creating is as valuable as the creative product that emerges at the end. We believe that art can connect, activate and vitalize communities.

CAN WA’s member-organisations range from individual arts-practitioners to large local government agencies and cultural development organisations. We also have funding relationships with the organisations listed in Our Partners.

To become part of CAN WA’s wider family, follow the links to our Membership and Free Community Artist Listing.

Want to work with us? Visit Career Opportunities to learn more.