Western Australian animals have been targeted as pests by locals and farmers. Some have been exploited for profit and hunted to near extinction. Native fauna have been celebrated as emblems and studied by scientists. They have been captured in photographs and in cages. The stories in this exhibition are found in records created by government departments, including the CSIRO, Department of Defence and ABC. They show how Western Australians have interacted with the state’s unique wildlife and highlight changing attitudes towards animals and the environment. Which animal was the target of a military campaign? What now beloved animal was dismissed as an annoying rodent? Why is there a whale tooth in the national archival collection? Grab your binoculars, get out your field guide and spot your favourite animals in this expedition to the wild west.

Love in Bright Landscapes takes its title from the name of a 1986 album by former, now cult, Perth band The Triffids – a group that has contributed much to the city’s narrative of wide open roads, treeless plains and the relentless heat of a long, dry Perth summer. But this evocation of love – and with it the possibilities and pitfalls of infatuation and romanticisation – in a landscape stretched out beneath an expansive bright sky, might equally apply to an understanding of Los Angeles: a city that itself has long been steeped in lore and myth. As such, this exhibition considers Perth and Los Angeles as comparative case studies, bringing together a selection of artworks made in reference to the characters, qualities and topographies of the two west coast cities. Despite their inherent differences – in industry, scale, population, politics, public perception and self-image – and the distinct independent cultures of each city, Perth and Los Angeles share several commonalties: from indigenous and colonial histories to natural resource booms, sprawling suburbia, car culture, blazing sunsets and seamy underbellies.

One of WA’s most popular arts events, Margaret River Region Open Studios, returns in September following the popularity of a Springtime event in 2020.

Open Studios promises to be more vibrant than ever, capturing the colours of spring and wildflower season and providing an opportunity for you to enjoy the Margaret River region in all its glory.

More than 100 artists from Busselton to Augusta will be opening their studio doors to welcome in art lovers and share their passion.

The event, marking its eighth year, features painters, sculptors, illustrators, jewellers, printmakers, glassblowers, ceramicists, potters, photographers, furniture makers, woodworkers, textile artists, metalworkers, mixed media artists and upcyclers who share a love of this beautiful part of the world.

Roadtrip to the region and make a holiday of it, going off the beaten path to visit studios of artists you know and love, and some new talent who might just be the next big thing! Renown artists who regularly participate include Leon Pericles, Rachel Coad, Lauren Wilhelm, Ian Mutch, Rebecca Cool, Mary-Lynne Stratton and Christian Fletcher.

A true Broome intuition comes in the form of the Shinju Matsuri that will tempt your senses with an exciting whirlwind of colour, sound, taste and smell as the community shares this beautiful locale with the world and the people who call it home. Every year, to mark the opening of the Shinju Matsuri Festival, the Broome community pays homage to their cultural backgrounds in this colourful Float Parade (free entry) through the town centre. A vibrant evening of performances and entertainment by dance schools, schools, scouts and other community groups in the live lighter Mardi Gras! (free entry). Send your message out to the universe in one of the most symbolic ways possible at The Floating Lantern Matsuri (general $15, VIP $120.) The Chinatown Feast ($75) is a Hawkers Market with a Broome-style twist. Dine out on Masterchef favourites Shinju Matsuri’s Sunset Long Table Dinner ($295). Don’t forget to come and enjoy a sunset drink at the festival bar (free entry.)

This exhibition attempts to showcase works of art that reflect the depth of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art and culture, with other aspects of the Aboriginal condition. As a result, radical observations about the ups and downs of life will, at times, weave in and out of stories about Country. Equally, across the show, visitors will encounter passages of serenity, corridors of tradition, and trails that speak to the upheavals experienced by generations of Indigenous people. Balancing Act features the work of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists living and working across the State and Australia. Works of art by local Noongar artists such as Revel Cooper (dec.), Sandra Hill, Dianne Jones and Shane Pickett (dec.) sit loud-and-proud among those by Richard Bell, Karla Dickens, Julie Dowling and Brian Robinson to name a few of the many stellar artists in the show. Image - Richard Bell One more hour of daylight 2017-2019. Synthetic polymer paint on linen, three parts: 240 x 540 cm (overall). State Art Collection, Art Gallery of Western Australia. Purchased through the Art Gallery of Western Australia Foundation: TomorrowFund, 2019. © Richard Bell, courtesy Milani Gallery, Brisbane.

Storytime is a story telling session for pre-schoolers, followed by a play session or take home colour in sheet. During the school term, storytelling sessions for pre-schoolers are held on Tuesdays at 10.30am and repeated on Fridays at 10.30am. During school holidays, storytime is held on Fridays only at 10.30am. Please be sure to book a ticket for every person attending including children.

You may not have heard of walking netball yet, but this new sport is a fun and friendly way to keep fit. Essentially indoor netball where you're only allowed to walk, Welcome Back Netball run a game every Tuesday evening at the Gold Netball Centre in Jolimont at 5.45pm.

This game attracts a range of players, from young people recoving from injuries to older players that are 50+. Everyone is welcome! If you'd like to try this unusual take on the original game of netball, get in touch.