Kolyang Program September Update

There’s been a lot happening through our Kolyang Program!

We were thrilled to have saxophonist, arts worker, and educator Naoko Uemoto as our second Studio Booster recipient for 2025 at the Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts (PICA).

We have two initiative announcements to share – Zavier Wileman as the recipient of the 2025 Performance Maker Hot Desk Fellowship in partnership with Centre for Stories, and we’re thrilled to announce the four successful applicants to our Indi’s in Residence advisory who will help shape the form of the 2026 Kolyang Hub/Lab.

We’re also teaming up with local partners to present, recently supporting The Blue Room Theatre’s 600 Seconds: Makes season and next up working with Libby Klysz and the City of Fremantle alongside key arts organisation support to host the one-week big-dreaming artist development model, Under Fluoros.

Read on to find out more and make sure to check out the Kolyang page on our website to see how you can be involved.

Studio Booster #2

We were thrilled to have saxophonist, arts worker, and educator Naoko Uemoto as our second Studio Booster recipient for 2025 at the Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts (PICA). Together with creative partner and animator Julie Ziegenhardt, Naoko and Julie spent two weeks in July in the PICA studio developing their show Recaptcha – a surreal, meta-infused digital realm in which the audience is invited to physically navigate and interact through media and performance.

In Naoko’s words –
‘The Studio Booster let us build on ‘Recaptcha’, a work initially developed by Julie Ziegenhardt and me. We loved having intensive days to fully focus on the creative process together. The dedicated collaborative work time, space, and funding meant we could really play with how we wanted our projection, sound, and tactile elements to mesh.

The opportunity to bring in new collaborators and mentors was especially significant for us. We’re excited to see how we can apply our learnings and experiences next, and also now have artist Kabira Hassim involved.

We felt really well and warmly supported by Jen and Mel (Performing Lines) and Miranda (PICA) throughout the entire process, especially with preparation support and check-ins. This allowed us to focus our energy toward creative and artistic development.’

We look forward to seeing how the work develops!

Read more about Naoko here.

600 SECONDS: MAKES

We once again teamed up with our partners at The Blue Room Theatre, this year to support 600 Seconds: Makes.

Earlier this month, performance makers Harrison Lorenz-Daniel, Elise Wilson, Kailyn Tang & Amelia La Pira, Benjamin Quirk, and Third Place Productions presented 10 minute in-development performances, showcasing their new ideas through this brilliant format with audiences.

Find out more.

HOTDESK FELLOW: ZAVIER WILEMAN

Congratulations to Zavier Wileman who was recently announced as the recipient of the 2025 Performance Maker Hot Desk Fellowship! In partnership with Centre for Stories, we are excited to recognise Zavier and their unique blend of satire and storytelling prowess. The panel was impressed by the high standard and provocative nature of Zavier’s writing and we look forward to witnessing the impact of this fellowship on their work in coming months.

Read more about Zavier.

INDI’S IN RESIDENCE: ANNOUNCEMENT

After calling out for independent artists and arts workers to consult and respond to our Kolyang Hub and Lab approach to come, we are thrilled to announce the successful applicants.

We are so pleased to be working with Katt Osborne, Rachel McMurray, Josten Myburgh and Mohammed Ayo Busari to co-conspire towards Kolyang 2026. Stay tuned!

UNDER FLUOROS

Next up, we can’t wait to team with the City of Fremantle to present Libby Klysz’s exciting one-week big-dreaming artist development model, Under Fluoros, at Victoria Hall in Walyalup.

In addition, the City of Fremantle alongside Black Swan State Theatre Company, The Blue Room Theatre, Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts (PICA), and The Last Great Hunt are each supporting the participation of one mid-career artist in Under Fluoros – our huge thanks to these sector partners for their support of creative process and independent professional practice!