Kolyang Program

Kolyang is an innovative initiative consisting of the Kolyang Creative Hub and the Kolyang Artist Lab. These programs are developed and delivered by Performing Lines WA (PLWA) in collaboration with the independent performing arts sector in Western Australia. In response to the global impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, PLWA reached out to independent artists and producers to understand their needs. The resounding request was for flexible, artist-led time and space to come together without the pressure of performance outcomes.

Successfully executed in 2020, 2021, and 2022, these programs have continuously adapted to address the evolving needs of the sector. A core principle of the Kolyang methodology is ensuring that all participants are paid salaries for their engagement.

In 2021, a name was sought for the Creative Hub that celebrated the diversity of experiences and knowledge brought to the table by participants, the connectedness that was created and honoured the land on which the events were held. With guidance from Clint and Kylie Bracknell (language revivalists and researchers) of Boomerang and Spear, Kolyang (pron: Kol-yong), the Noongar name for the Western Australian Golden Wattle, was selected.

The Department of Local Government, Sports and Cultural Industries, through the Arts Organisation Investment Program, confirmed their ongoing support of the new look Kolyang Program of Industry Development Initiatives from 2024-27. This is great recognition of the impact the program has had across its inaugural three-year cycle. Performing Lines WA will release future plans in early 2024, and will ensure delivery will continue to happen in close collaboration with the arts sector – maintaining relevance and servicing need.

The Kolyang Creative Hub is a three-week responsive program facilitating interdisciplinary artistic practice sharing, creative developments, panels and conversations.

The Kolyang Creative Hub aims to:

• Bring artists and industry professionals together.
• Provide dedicated time and space for reflection, questioning, learning, and sharing.
• Create a future-focused platform that breaks down barriers and facilitates knowledge-sharing within the sector.
• Foster critical thinking and the development of innovative new approaches to artistic work.

Held in conjunction with the Kolyang Creative Hub, the Kolyang Artist lab offers a safe, creative environment for WA’s emerging and early-career artists to explore ideas, build new relationships and unpack performance-making processes.

In the initial years, the Labs focused on emerging artists from First Nations and culturally diverse backgrounds. In 2022, the Lab expanded its reach to include ten early-career disabled artists working in any genre or medium.

Participants in the Lab are supported to join the Kolyang Creative Hub cohort after completing the one-week Lab.

The Artist Lab aims to:

• Bring together a cohort of emerging and early-career artists with diverse lived experiences.
• Connect artists with mentors and allies in their respective artforms.
• Provide dedicated time and space for exploring ideas, building relationships, and understanding performance-making processes.
• Support the development of innovative approaches to artistic practice.

Kolyang Creative Hub Eligibility Criteria

• Open to mid-career and established artists from all artforms from Western Australia, including Perth metro and regional areas, with a specific project, skill or methodology they would like to explore;
• Open to first-timers and previous participants;

Kolyang Artist Lab Eligibility Criteria

• Open to emerging and early-career artists from Western Australia, including both the Perth metro and regional areas.

Fees

Creative Hub and Artist Lab participants are paid a stipend, which varies each year in accordance with the shape and duration of both programs.

Applications are currently closed for Kolyang. Expressions of interest for future iterations of Kolyang will be advertised on our website and social media and details will be hosted here.

Be sure to check our website for updates.

To ensure that the Creative Hub and Artist Lab remain artist-led, PLWA introduced an Artist Advisory Group in 2021, which continued with refreshed membership in 2022. Comprised of previous program participants, this group plays a crucial role in assessing expressions of interest, guiding programming decisions, and providing mentoring and support throughout the course of the Creative Hub. The members of the Advisory Group are re-assessed and selected by the PLWA team each year.

2021 Artist Advisory

Alex Desebrock
Daley Rangi
Grace Chow
Melissa Cantwell

2022 Artist Advisory

Melissa Cantwell
Bruno Booth
Janine Oxenham
Daisy Sanders

Reports

PLWA concluded the first trilogy by engaging Tracker Development and Black Iris Consulting to create a comprehensive set of resources that assess and showcase the remarkable outcomes and impact of this ground-breaking program. Our resources consist of a 44-page evaluation and impact report, along with two highlight reels – one for the Creative Hub and one for the Artist Lab.

Public Program Podcast

Each year, the Kolyang Creative Hub features a thoughtfully curated public program of engaging events, including small-group discussions, long tables and panel conversations. These sessions are centered around topics put forward by the cohort, ensuring their relevance and significance. To provide wider access to these valuable conversations, selected sessions from both 2021 and 2022 were recorded and are now accessible through our public podcast channel. You can listen to them at https://anchor.fm/kolyang.

Sector Conversations

A key focus of Kolyang in 2021 was to strengthen the sector by engaging in sector-wide discussions and bold conversations, and collectively suggest actions to make our industry stronger and more cohesive. Dr. Shona Erskine compiled a comprehensive report that highlights the significant findings and recommendations derived from the Kolyang Sector Conversation. This report was presented to the wider sector in collaboration with the Chamber of Arts and Culture Western Australia, solidifying our commitment to fostering a thriving industry.

>> Read Kolyang Sector conversation report