A Cultural Side of Perth: Galleries, Museums and Creative Spaces

Perth’s cultural scene covers a lot of ground; from large-scale museum exhibitions and major galleries to smaller, artist-run spaces and theatres. These are the places that give a broader sense of the city, through art, history and the people shaping it today.

Inside Perth’s Cultural Scene

Culture is right at the heart of the city here in Perth, concentrated around Northbridge and the Cultural Centre where major galleries, museums and performance spaces are all within a short walk.

Step through and you’ll pass large-scale institutions like the Art Gallery of Western Australia and the WA Museum Boola Bardip, alongside contemporary spaces and theatres that keep the precinct active throughout the day and well into the evening. Meanwhile, beyond the centre, places like Fremantle extend that mix further, with heritage buildings repurposed into creative venues and studios.

Where to Experience Culture in Perth

Start here if you want to get a proper sense of Perth. These spaces show what the city values, what it remembers and what it’s creating right now!

Art Gallery of Western Australia (AGWA)

In the Perth Cultural Centre in Northbridge, AGWA is Western Australia’s main public gallery, known for its strong Aboriginal art collection alongside contemporary Australian and international work. Entry to the main galleries is free (although donations are always welcome), and you can spend around an hour for a quick visit or closer to two if you want to take your time. Exhibitions rotate regularly.

State Theatre Centre, WA

Right in Northbridge, the State Theatre Centre of WA is Perth’s main performing arts venue, home to companies like Black Swan State Theatre Company. The program covers theatre, contemporary performance and touring productions, with shows changing regularly throughout the year. Check what’s on before you go; some of the most interesting productions only run for a few nights!

WA Museum Boola Bardip

WA Museum Boola Bardip was completely redeveloped in 2020 and now focuses on telling Western Australia’s story through people, place and identity. Galleries cover everything from the state’s deep Aboriginal history to its mining industry, migration and unique wildlife, with standout sections like the dinosaur skeletons and the blue whale hanging overhead. You’ll pay $15 for your entry to see interactive displays and walk through open spaces full of installations. There’s plenty of variety here to keep it interesting, even if you’re not usually into museums; everything from shipwrecks to postal collections!

PICA (Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts)

PICA, during its 30 years, has focused on contemporary work, and we don’t just mean art. Contemporary dance, experimental theatre, new music and live art have all had their place here, and exhibitions swap regularly, featuring plenty of new emerging artists. Things can feel a little more raw or experimental here. You might walk in and find something immersive, unusual or even a bit confusing, but that’s kind of the point!

Maalinup Aboriginal Gallery

Maalinup Aboriginal Gallery is small and run by Noongar woman Dale Tilbrook and centres on local culture, bush tucker and storytelling. It’s located in the Swan Valley, so it’s a great one to drop into if you’re spending a day there. Visitors can learn about native ingredients, how they’re used, and the cultural meaning behind them, often through guided sessions and tastings rather than static displays. Plus, you can pick up something to take home, too!

Fremantle Arts Centre

When in Freo, drop into Fremantle Arts Centre, housed in a former convict-built building from the 1860s. Originally it was used as an asylum, which gives it a very different setting to most galleries! The program focuses on contemporary Australian art, with rotating exhibitions alongside a well-known outdoor concert series that runs through summer. There’s also a café in the courtyard, so people tend to linger, especially when events or live music are on. This spot also runs art classes, including sculpture, ceramics, printing, drawing and more.

Street Art of Fremantle

If you’ve been to Fremantle, you’ll know that large murals and smaller pieces are scattered through the town’s West End, especially around High Street, Market Street and the FOMO precinct. Some come from events like the Fremantle Biennale, so you’ll spot work by well-known Australian artists alongside more local pieces. A lot of it sits just off the main streets, so it’s worth taking a few turns down side lanes to find the better walls!

John Curtin Gallery

John Curtin Gallery, based at Curtin University, hosts major touring exhibitions, often bringing in works from national collections and international loans. The program regularly highlights Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, with exhibitions that focus on specific regions, stories or cultural themes. For example, this year watch out for Our World in Photos; Bardi Jawi children age 8-15 present their curation of the world. Expect more in-depth, research-led shows here, the kind you won’t usually find in the city’s main galleries.

Bilya Koort Boodja

Way out of Perth in Northam, Bilya Koort Boodja, focuses on Noongar culture and the connection between people, land and the Swan River. If you find yourself heading out this way, it’s a great place to stop just over an hour from the city. The space brings together storytelling, language and cultural knowledge, with displays centred on local perspectives and the Perth region.

FORM Gallery

A little fun and more casual in style, FORM Gallery highlights design and Western Australian creatives. It features work connected to architecture, materials and local production, plus a number of workshops and masterclasses. Exhibitions often explore how people live, build and create in WA, with projects tied closely to place and community.

PS Art Space

Housed in a restored warehouse on Pakenham Street, PS Art Space combines a contemporary gallery with one of the largest independent artist studio spaces in Western Australia, with around 30+ studios on site. Exhibitions feature Australian and international artists and change regularly, often leaning toward large installations, performance and experimental work. Because artists are working in the same building, the space feels closely tied to the making of the work itself, which adds a super unique element!

Urban Orchard

Yes, it is an urban garden, but Urban Orchard in Northbridge is also an event and cultural space. It combines urban farming with creative projects, using its own garden and produce as part of the space. Workshops often cover growing food, cooking and low-waste living, alongside small exhibitions and community events. Run as a social enterprise, the focus stays on practical, hands-on ideas tied to local initiatives.

State Library of Western Australia

Some of us just love to visit a library when we travel, and this one won’t disappoint. State Library of Western Australia combines heritage reading rooms with more modern interiors, including the central glass-roofed space that opens up the building. Alongside the archives, you’ll find small exhibitions drawn from the library’s collections, often focusing on WA history, photography and local stories.

Where to stay in Perth

Just outside the CBD, Great Eastern Motor Lodge gives you quick access to the city while staying slightly removed from the busier centre. The location works well for getting around, especially if you’re planning to visit different parts of Perth, and having on-site parking makes it easy if you’re driving. Plus, there’s a pool right there waiting for you after a day of exploring.

Sanno Marracoonda Perth Airport Hotel sits closer to the airport in a quieter, more tucked-away setting surrounded by trees. There’s a pool on site and a relaxed feel, as well as being the closest hotel to Perth’s airport.