The Performing Arts in WA 

Western Australia’s contemporary and heritage Performing Arts organisations have earned a robust global reputation. WA is home to Australia’s oldest International Arts Festival and the world renowned Fringe World Festival, and the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) is recognised as one of Australia’s premier Performing Arts training institutions. FutureNow works closely with our Industry partners in the performing arts to examine current trends in the sector and identify opportunities to promote and support the Performing Arts workforce. 

Read our latest Performing Arts Industry Snapshot.

View the WAAPA 2022 Performance Program

Our Industry Partners

​FutureNow collaborates with organisations across the Performing Arts sector. In particular, we wish to thank the following partner organisations, who maintain representation on our Board and Industry Advisory Groups:

• Black Swan State Theatre Company
• Yirra Yaakin
• Perth Festival
• ​Perth Symphony Orchestra
• West Australian Symphony Orchestra
• CircuitWest
• Ausdance WA
• WA Classical Ballet Teachers' Association​
• West Australian Music
• Propel Youth Arts WA
• Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts
• WA Ballet
• ​Charlesworth Ballet Institute

Current Projects

FutureNow is collaborating with industry and the WA Classical Ballet Teachers' Association to explore models for establishing formalised traineeship pathways for assistant dance teachers in Western Australia. The Association formed in May 2022 as an organisation dedicated to the enhancement and improvement of classical ballet teaching in WA through the sharing of knowledge. 

Training and Education

Western Australians have access to an exceptional range of rigorous Performing Arts training and education opportunities, from specialist secondary schools like the Charlesworth Ballet Institute and John Curtin College of the Arts, through to vocational and higher education qualifications, and the comprehensive range of post-graduate studies offered by the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts. FutureNow works with stakeholders across the training and education landscape, and has a formal role to play in the development of vocational education and training to meet industry needs.

​CUA Creative Arts and Culture Training Package

Training package qualifications are developed through a process of national consultation with industry. They are occupational skills standards against which training delivery and assessment of competency can take place. FutureNow works with our industry partners across Western Australia to provide current industry advice into the development of new Performing Arts training package products.

• Access the current CUA Creative Arts and Culture Training package.
• Learn about the Australian Industry Skills Committee.
• Learn about the Industry Reference Committee for the Creative Arts and Culture industries.
• Learn about PwC Skills for Australia, the Skills Service Organisation for the Creative Arts and Culture industries.  

Current Performing Arts Training Projects

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The following projects are currently underway for the CUA Creative Arts and Culture training package. Follow the links below for updates: 

Project 22A Virtual and hybrid events and creative products

Project 22B Working with confronting material

Subscribe to FutureNow’s eNewsletter for updates on current industry consultations for Training Package development.

Apprenticeships and Traineeships

​Apprenticeships and traineeships provide a way to combine training with a job, enabling the student to work towards a nationally recognised qualification whilst earning a wage. A number of Performing Arts qualifications may be completed as a traineeship. 

Access the current list of traineeships and apprenticeships available in Western Australia.

​VET for Secondary Students

FutureNow works with industry to provide current advice on the suitability of vocational Performing Arts qualifications for delivery to secondary students. This advice is collated and updated annually into the VET Delivered to Secondary Students Register by the Department of Training and Workforce Development. 

Access the current VET Qualifications Register for  Secondary Students.