Creators will have the opportunity to showcase their work on the Forum screens at City Campus.
Six Western Australian creators will have the opportunity of a lifetime to showcase their work on the Southern Hemisphere's largest digital canvas through a new Edith Cowan University (ECU) and Lotterywest initiative.
ECU is calling on Western Australian creators to push the boundaries of their creative practice and bring ambitious new works to life through AWAKEN, a Lotterywest-funded program.
AWAKEN will nurture the next generation of immersive digital artists, giving them access to the Southern Hemisphere's largest digital canvas to showcase bold new creative works in Perth's city centre.
The program will offer six $25,000 commissions, together with mentoring, specialist creative and production support from ECU experts, and industry leaders.
Participants will also gain unrivalled access to some of ECU's state-of-the-art facilities and specialist technical spaces including residency in ECU's creative innovation studio (the CreatorsLAB) to help them transform their ideas into immersive public artworks.
Artists from a range of disciplines and backgrounds are encouraged to apply, with an emphasis on experimentation, innovation and the potential to develop new creative capabilities.
"ECU City offers an extraordinary canvas for emerging artists to showcase their creativity. The AWAKEN program gives them the opportunity, technology and support to take their creativity somewhere new," ECU Vice President Engagement, Ms Lorie Helliwell said.
"We want artists to think big, go further and explore what becomes possible when imagination meets technology. These commissions are a springboard, opening new opportunities for immersive creative talent in WA. ECU is proud to support the next generation of artists shaping our city's cultural landscape."
The program is open to artists and creative practitioners across metropolitan and regional Western Australia.
Through a combination of mentoring, personalised development, creative and production intensives, the initiative will help participants build confidence and practical experience in immersive, interactive and real-time creative technologies, opening pathways into an evolving field of creative practice.
AWAKEN forms part of a broader $1.7 million Lotterywest investment in creative innovation at ECU City, which also supports specialist technology enabling immersive, interactive and real-time digital experiences, as well as a new WA Community Digital Gallery. Together, these initiatives will nurture local talent, strengthen community connections and create new ways for Western Australians to experience and engage with digital creativity.
Lotterywest CEO Colin Smith said Lotterywest was proud to support programs like AWAKEN that empower local creatives, foster innovation, and strengthen Western Australia's cultural landscape.
"As the only lottery in Australia where all available profits are returned to the community, our support helps create opportunities for artists and creatives, contributing to a more vibrant and connected future for our State," he said.
Applications will be assessed by an independent panel, with selection based on the artistic quality of applicants' existing practice, alignment with the program's objectives, potential for practice development, evidence of experimentation and innovation, and capacity to deliver a project.
Expression of interest in the program are open for three weeks and close on 30 November 2026. Shortlisted applicants will be required to respond to a creative prompt, and successful applicants will be notified in early February 2027, with onboarding commencing later that same month.
Artists and creative practitioners interested in extending their practice into immersive digital art are encouraged to submit an expression of interest.
Artists and creative practitioners interested in extending their practice into immersive digital art are encouraged to submit an expression of interest. Visit the AWAKEN homepage to find out more.
