AWESOME Arts

12/08/2024

Huge congratulations to breaksea.org on this richly deserved award. We loved presenting this gorgeous show at the 2023 AWESOME Festival! ❤️🙌🎶🐟🎉

09/08/2024

Have you heard the exciting news?

The AWESOME Festival is heading to BREC this October 1 & 2 🤩

Visit https://www.bunburyentertainment.com/whats-on/awesome-festival-bunbury-hub/ to see what’s on!

COMING SOON!
AWESOME Festival Bunbury Hub ❤️

AWESOME Festival is hitting the road and coming to Bunbury with its premier program of quality arts entertainment for children.

This year, experience the visually spectacular Bubble Canteen as 12,000 bubble come alive every minute, join the Crafty Nannas to learn some new skills, and jump into the Mess Hall to play and create with a range of colourful and tactile materials. In between activities, peruse the stalls of local creators at the AWESOME Kid Markets.

PLUS there's LOADS more to be added to the Program so mark the date in your calendar and get ready to experience art for children like you’ve never seen before at the AWESOME Festival Bunbury Hub!

❤️ BREC and AWESOME Festival present AWESOME Festival Bunbury Hub
📍 Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre
📆 TUESDAY 01 October & WEDNESDAY 02 October 2024 | 10am - 2pm
😍 FREE Event
🔗 More info: https://www.bunburyentertainment.com/whats-on/awesome-festival-bunbury-hub/

06/08/2024

It's National Student Volunteer Week! We want to say a huge thank you to the incredible volunteers who help us present the AWESOME Festival every year 🥰

To celebrate , Team AWESOME will be hanging out at the UWA Student Guild Village Volunteering Expo tomorrow (Wednesday 7 August) from 11:30AM - 1:30PM. Come say "Hi" and make your own badge!

If you would like to sign up as a volunteer for the 2024 AWESOME Festival, visit https://bit.ly/24AWESOMEVolunteer

30/07/2024

The AWESOME Festival is teaming up with the City of Mandurah for some Foyer Fun, and we're on the lookout for local kids aged 14 and under to sell their homemade creations at our Kids' Market! 🎨✂️🌱

When: Tuesday 24 September, 9AM - 11AM
Where: ManPAC Foyer

Spaces are limited, so get in quick! For more information and to register your interest, head to https://bit.ly/awesomekidsmarketmandurah

25/07/2024

The AWESOME Kids Market is back! Host your own stall for a day at the 2024 AWESOME Festival! 🤩

We're on the lookout for WA kids aged 14 and under and their families to sell their homemade creations at the 2024 AWESOME Festival in Perth.

Dates: Tuesday 24 - Saturday 28 September

Think jewellery, candles, greeting cards, plants, etc. We can't wait to see what you create!

EOI's now open 👉 https://bit.ly/awesomekidsmarket24

Photo by James Campbell

25/07/2024

So much creativity happening in Nannup at the moment! Can't wait to see what these young artists bring to life on the green screen! 🤩🎥🎬

Nannup District High School

Healthway

22/07/2024

Looking for an inspiring and creative arts excursion for your class? 2024 AWESOME excursion bookings are NOW OPEN! 🤩🥳

Dates: 16 - 20 September (last week of Term 3)
Location: Perth College, Mt Lawley

Your students can experience a taste of the AWESOME Festival with one of our exciting excursion packages!

Package 1: Show Only
Package 2: Show + 1-hour workshop with a professional artist
Package 3: Thursday Special! 2 shows + a self-guided exhibition tour

For more information and to book, visit https://awesomearts.com/school-excursions

19/07/2024

We hope your first week back at school was AWESOME! 🤩🎨✍️

🍎🥕🥝🫒Here are some delicious and creative ways to fill your lunchboxes for the exciting term ahead! 🍎🥕🥝🫒

Thanks to our friends Crunch&Sip for this lunchbox inspo!!


Healthway

19/07/2024

The AWESOME Festival is landing at the Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre (BREC) this October, and we're on the lookout for local children aged 14 and under to sell their homemade creations at the AWESOME Kids Market 🤩🎨🪴

Spaces are filling fast! Register your interest here: https://bit.ly/awesomekidsmarketbunbury

2024 AWESOME Festival Bunbury Hub Kids Market 💜
Calling all young entrepreneurs!

Host your own market stall for a day at the AWESOME Festival Bunbury Hub 🎉

The AWESOME Festival is hitting the road and coming to BREC in the October School Holidays. It's BIG news!

We're on the lookout for local kids aged 14 and under, along with their families, to sell their homemade creations at our AWESOME Kids Market!

💜 Dates: Tuesday 01 and Wednesday 02 October 2024
💜 Time: 10am - 2pm

Think jewellery, greeting cards, lucky dips, plants, etc. We'd love to hear your ideas!

To register your interest please complete the EOI at the link below:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScMEBHJWfpgxs7o6l-AaaXbeLI8av4lGYK9RCyOap0otISw1g/viewform

15/07/2024

Last chance to RSVP to attend our FREE Teacher PD Session this Saturday! Just email [email protected] with any dietary requirements.

We hope to see you there! 😊

Teachers! Are you looking for an inspiring and creative arts experience for your students? You're invited to our FREE Teacher PD Session!

Join visual artist, Louise Snook for a 90-minute workshop exploring papier-mache creatures 🐉 AWESOME will also launch our School Excursions program for 2024!

Saturday 20 July, 10:30AM - 1PM at the State Library of WA.

Please email [email protected] to RSVP!

10/07/2024

This week (7 - 14 July) is NAIDOC Week. The theme this year is Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud & Proud.

NAIDOC Week is an opportunity to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

AWESOME Arts Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognises their continuing connection to land, waters, and community. We pay our respects to them and their cultures; and to elders past, present and emerging.

To learn more about NAIDOC Week visit https://www.naidoc.org.au/

09/07/2024

Congratulations to all of the PAWA finalists!

👏🏆👏🏆👏🏆👏🏆👏🏆👏🏆👏🏆

We’re thrilled that 2 of the brilliant shows presented at the 2023 AWESOME Festival are 2024 PAWA award contenders.

breaksea.org
every other theatre company
Performing Arts WA
The Blue Room Theatre

26/06/2024

Teachers! Are you looking for an inspiring and creative arts experience for your students? You're invited to our FREE Teacher PD Session!

Join visual artist, Louise Snook for a 90-minute workshop exploring papier-mache creatures 🐉 AWESOME will also launch our School Excursions program for 2024!

Saturday 20 July, 10:30AM - 1PM at the State Library of WA.

Please email [email protected] to RSVP!

24/06/2024

This film is AWESOME!

East Kalgoorlie Primary School students have been working on storytelling, filmmaking and tech literacy with artists Leith Alexander and Luke Joseph Ryan on the intensive AWESOME Schools program in 2023 and 2024.

Students wrote, shot, directed, acted, and edited this amazing film, "Survival Game" on their final residency with the project.

This program is proudly supported by the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries

21/06/2024

Calling all teachers! AWESOME is inviting your school to create your own collage artworks to be displayed at the 2024 AWESOME Festival! 🤩🤩

This year we are asking WA school children to listen to their hearts; to embrace empathy, connect with the world around them and share kindness.

Channel your creative energies into designing your own collage to add to the Little Impressions Exhibition.

Entry is free! Sign up here https://bit.ly/24LittleImpressions or email [email protected]

20/06/2024

Delicious and healthy snacks for the lunchbox or fuelling up for winter sports on the weekend!

Thanks to our friends at Fuel to Go & Play for this tasty recipe!

18/06/2024

It's that time again! Volunteer registrations for the 2024 AWESOME Festival are now live! 🥳🥳

Running annually in the September school holidays, volunteering at the AWESOME Festival offers opportunities to gain real experience in all aspects of the arts and event management.

You may be working alongside professional artists, leading school groups through an unforgettable festival excursion, or working directly with patrons by running one of our information booths!

To sign up and for more information, visit https://bit.ly/24AWESOMEVolunteer

12/06/2024

Nullagine Primary School
29 April – 3 May 2024

Artists Annick Akanni and Sete Tele recently travelled onto the lands of the Palyku People to explore digital art, illustration and textile technology with the children at Nullagine Primary School.

The students at the school responded to the 2024 theme ‘Heart’ by creating self-portraits on tarp canvases using various materials such as posca pens, cotton and jute yarn, colourful pipe cleaners and wire. The young artists further explored self-identity by engaging their imagination in digital art. By experimenting with ‘Photoleap’ they created exciting digital portraits reflecting their personalities and pushing the boundary of what is possible!

Each student also made their own paper plate family tree, exploring self-expression through patterns, illustrations and positive words from the prompt ‘what kind of heart do you have?’. The students then collaboratively weaved their paper plate family trees together to create a Nullagine Primary School tree, showing their connection to the wider community.

The program culminated in a celebration, where the principal, staff and students came together to enjoy an exhibition of the students’ hard work over the week. A spread of healthy fruit, vegetables and snacks where shared as attendees explored the young artists’ work!

This residency was proudly supported by Healthway and the Go for 2&5 message.

29/05/2024

Monday 27 May marked the beginning of National Reconciliation Week - a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.

Our friends at the WA Museum Boola Bardip are celebrating reconciliation week with workshops and events suitable for the whole family. Join WA Museum for Little Learners: Kaya Koolangka! tomorrow morning. Discover the Nyoongar names of native animals and visit the galleries in these educator-led sessions for children aged 2–5. Book your spot https://visit.museum.wa.gov.au/boolabardip/little-learners-kaya-koolangka

28/05/2024

A healthy and hearty winter warmer breakfast is what this weather calls for!🥣🌧❄️
Our friends at Fuel to Go & Play have some delicious ways to to start your day. 😋

20/05/2024

This week is National Volunteer Week (20 - 26 May)!

The theme this year is 'Something for Everyone' and recognises the diverse passion and talents everyone brings to the act of volunteering.

AWESOME can't thank our amazing group of volunteers enough for donating their time and efforts to ensure a smooth and enjoyable festival for families 🥰

📷 by 2023 AWESOME Volunteer, Nina

14/05/2024

Huge congratulations to our CEO who has been named as a finalist in the 2024 Western Australian of the Year Awards.

These awards, hosted by Celebrate WA, honour exceptional Western Australians making extraordinary contributions to the WA community.
Jenny is a finalist in the Arts & Culture category.


Jenny Simpson, CEO of AWESOME Arts Australia, is dedicated to providing every child with an enriching arts experience. With a background rooted in community festivals, Jenny returned to her arts roots in 2001, driven by the transformative power of the arts, especially for children.

Under Jenny’s leadership, AWESOME Arts Australia has delivered 17 International Arts Festivals, reaching hundreds of thousands of young people and families. Notably, Jenny has spearheaded projects in isolated and disadvantaged communities, fostering creativity and community connection. One such project in Newman saw children create a vibrant new world, ‘Newmania,’ highlighting their newfound creativity and confidence.

As an inclusive leader, Jenny has prioritized accessibility, ensuring representation of artists with disabilities, and implementing innovative strategies for neurodivergent children and their families. By providing detailed event summaries to help families navigate potential triggers, AWESOME Festival has become a welcoming space for hundreds of families who may otherwise have felt excluded.

Beyond her role at AWESOME, Jenny serves on volunteer boards and runs a community choir, which has been operating for more than 25 years, embodying her commitment to arts advocacy and community engagement. This group sings for fun and friendship. They also visit nursing homes, something Jenny first began doing with her family as a young person.

Through her diverse contributions, Jenny continues to champion the transformative power of the arts for all.


Congratulations!

https://www.celebratewa.com.au/finalists/


https://thewest.com.au/news/wa/western-australian-of-the-year-the-21-finalists-grouped-across-seven-categories-c-14602446

Pic Credit: Mogens Johansen, The West Australian

13/05/2024

Are you looking for advice on yummy and healthy foods for your bright young thing? 🍏🥦🍇🥕🥑

Our friends at Crunch&Sip have a new bite-sized podcast with great advice on packing lunchboxes, reaching for rainbow foods, making healthy food in the home fun, and so much more!

Healthway

Today is the day! We are very excited to share our new podcast with you, which is now LIVE!

Crunch Bites was developed to provide parents and carers with bite-sized nutrition information in a grab and go format.

Our first four episodes dropped today. Here is a nibble of what they talk about:

Packing a lunchbox that actually gets eaten
Developing positive relationships with food and body image
Fussy eating
Reaching for rainbow foods, and making healthy food in the home fun

Have a listen and let us know what you think! Comment below with topics you would like to hear about in future episodes.

New episodes will be dropped fortnightly on Mondays
💥

09/05/2024

‘Portrait of Boorloo’, a documentary project led by the Perth Centre for Photography (P*P) aimed at showcasing the vibrant tapestry of some of Boorloo’s most dedicated individuals who work tirelessly towards inspiring positive cultural transformation for all within the city.

P*P commissioned talented WA documentary photographer, and Curtin University graduate, Claudia Caporn, to collaborate with on the project.

Claudia Caporn is a fine art documentary photographer based in Quairading, Australia. The duopoly of this parallel existence in rural Australia and urban city is deeply ingrained in her photographic practice, with her works exploring the vernacular aesthetics and human experiences in rural Australia, as well as examining the contemporary concepts and realities of place, legacy and notions of identity


Jenny Simpson, CEO AWESOME Arts Australia

Jenny is a fierce advocate for all Western Australian children and their families and during her tenure at AWESOME Arts Australia has delivered 17 International Arts Festivals in Boorloo, enriching the lives of hundreds of thousands of young people and their families.
Having grown up in a small wheatbelt town Jenny’s passion and leadership in building capacity and connection with young people in regional and remote communities is another area of focus, with no less than 250 projects delivered into some of our most isolated and disadvantaged communities.

‘I would like to see Boorloo transform into the most creative and accessible city in the world. We must all strive to celebrate, embrace and engage with our wonderfully diverse community’.

See the full series at 45 London Court Perth until 11 May 2024.

Project creator
P*P - Perth Centre for Photography

Artist
Claudia Caporn

Lead sponsor
City of Perth

Supported by
Activate Perth

P*P’s program is supported by Culture and the Arts, WA

Image © Claudia Caporn

22/04/2024

We love this lunchbox inspo from Crunch&Sip! Crunch&Sip says that when it comes to packing lunch for kids who love to get moving as quickly as possible, packing foods that are easy to reach for and make light work of lunchtime munching work best. Whole muffins, fruit or veg and a one-handed wrap are all easy for kids to eat while making the most of their break! 🥕 Healthway

19/04/2024

Huge congratulations Emily, you are an absolute powerhouse. We cannot wait to see what you get up to as a Situate Artist.
Exciting times!

We are thrilled that Breaksea Youth Artist, Emily O'Brien is a artist for 2024/2025! Situate 24/25 is dedicated to developing bold & experimental work by regionally based, emerging artists. Prioritising artistic excellence, and ensuring the process & results benefit artists, Emily is one of 6 successful applicants and we couldn't be prouder. We wish Emily all the very best in this endeavour. Emily was on Breaksea Youth Mentorship program and has choreographed our 2021 collaboration View from the Magpie's Nest and beautiful dance piece to "Blue Diamond Waters" in The Magical Weedy Seadragon in 2023. We wish Emily all the very best in this endeavour, we know she will be amazing! Together. Connected. United. Breaksea, side by side.
📸
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Breaksea 2024 is supported by
🎶🎭💃🏻🕺

16/04/2024

We are so happy that the Year 10 Advanced Photography class at Fremantle College enjoyed our incursion, led by the wonderful Leith Alexander! 📸

11/04/2024

The data proves it - Perth loves the AWESOME Festival! 🥰 We are so happy with these results, thank you to Culture Counts and to all who completed our survey 🤩

02/04/2024

**UPDATE: All shifts have now been filled. To join the waitlist visit https://bit.ly/kidsmarketyagan

Calling all young makers! AWESOME is on the lookout for children aged 14 and under and their families to sell their homemade creations at Illuminate Yagan Square! This jam-packed FREE event runs over two days to celebrate the unveiling of the new-look Yagan Square!

The event runs on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 April with two shifts available. Spaces are very limited, so get in quick!

With thanks to DevelopmentWA.

28/03/2024

The AWESOME office will be closed until Tuesday 🐰 We hope you all have a wonderful Easter!