Overview:

New Beginnings is a dynamic creative development program dedicated to supporting and nurturing emerging artists as they explore and develop new works across diverse performance mediums. Designed as a platform for fresh voices, the program fosters collaboration, experimentation, and artistic growth, with a strong emphasis on partnerships between BIPOC and non-BIPOC creatives.

We recognize the systemic barriers that emerging BIPOC artists face in accessing opportunities for collaboration and creative expression. New Beginnings aims to dismantle these barriers by cultivating a vibrant, supportive community where diverse artists can connect, refine their practice, and share their work with broad audiences. With a focus on inclusion and cultural exchange, the program encourages artists to push boundaries and reimagine storytelling.

Core Intentions:

• To nurture emerging artists through early-stage development of new performance work.

• To center BIPOC creatives while fostering genuine, equitable collaborations across communities.

• To amplify unheard stories and diversify the voices shaping contemporary theatre.

• To provide a supportive, exploratory space where process is valued as much as product.

• To encourage innovation and cross-disciplinary experimentation in storytelling.

Program Features:

• Creative Residencies: Dedicated space and time for artists to collaborate, devise, and workshop new work.

• Mentorship & Guidance: Ongoing support from experienced industry professionals, dramaturgs, and cultural leaders.

• Workshops & Labs: Practical sessions designed to sharpen craft, explore themes, and spark creative ideas.

• Community Exchange: Cultural dialogues and shared practices that foster deeper understanding and connection.

• Work-in-Progress Showcases: Inviting audiences into the development process, providing artists with feedback, exposure, and growth opportunities.

Who It’s For:

• Emerging writers, performers, directors, and interdisciplinary artists developing new performance works.

• BIPOC creatives seeking safe and affirming spaces to grow their practice and find collaborators.

• Artists interested in cross-cultural storytelling and hybrid creative practices.

• Creatives eager to experiment, collaborate, and contribute to a more inclusive theatre ecology.

Why New Beginnings?

• Because every artist deserves the opportunity to begin with support, not struggle.

• Because representation must be more than symbolic—it must be structural and sustained.

• Because the future of theatre is collaborative, cross-cultural, and courageously new.

• New Beginnings champions the next generation of theatre and performance-makers, equipping them with the tools, networks, and community needed to bring their stories to life.

Funding & Support:

The inaugural edition of New Beginnings is proudly funded by Propel Youth Arts WA’s Creative Development Program – Launchpad, supporting Creative Producer and Emerging Playwright Mohammed ‘Ayo Busari’ as a recipient.