Daily between Aug 20-30 Exhibition In our hands, we hold Driven by artists whose practices centre on weaving as the physical object, by using traditional methods or materials and artists who explore weaving as an intangible idea and metaphor, these portals, baskets, and vessels are shaped by the subjectivity and truth-telling of the artists. Knowledge shared and moments of coming together, In our hands, we hold makes space for the ancient, embodied and contemporary stories and practices that become interwoven. Foregrounding the work of First Nations women, the exhibition extends to artists who share a relationship to ancestral stories and recent family histories. Objects and presented practices speak to generosity and understandings of time that are constantly in flux and motion, referring to artist knowledges and processes, ways of understanding the world and shaping our place in it. The exhibition brings together new work by artists Lorraine Connelly-Northey (Waradgerie), Sharyn Egan (Whadjuk Nyoongar), Brett Nannup (Noongar artist with ancestral ties to the Binjareb and Wilman peoples), James Nguyen and Clare Peake, as well as works by Mabel Juli (Gija), Chantal Fraser, Beverly Thompson (Yamatji) and Katie West (Yindjibarndi).
Daily between Aug 20-30 Exhibition Nullians Nullians is a satirical exhibition by Noongar artist Kamsani Bin Salleh that examines the ideologies underpinning Australia as an extraction colony. Through comic-style illustrations, Bin Salleh explores complex histories of colonisation, identity and power with humour, wit and disarming simplicity. The exhibition centres on the Nullians—formless, expressive characters whose name references the colonial fiction of “land belonging to no one.” These figures are simultaneously no one and everyone: the artist and the observer, the First Nations person and the settler, the coloniser and the colonised, the status quo and those pushed to its margins. Through their conversations, they invite audiences to question inherited narratives and consider the ongoing impacts of colonialism. Originally created out of necessity to articulate the artist’s perspective, the Nullians first appeared as drawings on discarded paper, receipts and tissues before finding an audience through social media. These self-published works have since gained national recognition, with selections exhibited alongside Australia’s leading political cartoonists at the Museum of Australian Democracy. Using humour as a vehicle for difficult conversations, Nullians navigates subjects ranging from everyday microaggressions to genocide, weaving together historical events and contemporary popular culture. The result is a body of work that makes challenging ideas accessible while prompting reflection on Australia’s past and present.
21 August, 22 August Installation In The Block Universe Step inside In The Block Universe, an immersive performance where music, film, animation and projection dissolve the boundaries between audience and stage. At the heart of the experience is a transparent cube, transformed by four-sided projections into a shifting world of light, sound and illusion. Blending Myriad Sun’s signature experimental music with 3D mapping, performance art and audience interaction, this surreal multimedia work invites you into a space where reality bends and imagination takes over. A bold, sensory experience unlike anything else. 21st 8:00pm:Tickets 22nd 8:00pm:Tickets
22 August Theatre A Magical Guide to Fighting Fascism Three women, three time periods, three regimes: one family full of secrets. An epic musical journey following three women in three places as they discover untold family truths. Be transported magically between 1970s Chile, 2000s Perth, and modern-day Scotland as mysterious, tyrannical forces try to keep these women apart. Enter angry mermaids, wise trees, and messages travelling on the wind that whips the sand dunes. Expect music, humour, and a dash of history, as you are guided on a multicultural voyage to discover what happens to families when secrets are buried and memories are lost at sea.
Daily between Aug 22-28 Storytelling Chin Wagon | Map of Memories Every place is shaped by the stories people leave behind. Join celebrated storyteller Andrea Gibbs as she sets up her Chin Wagon in locations across Walyalup, inviting locals and visitors alike to share their memories of Fremantle—whether they’re funny, heartfelt, unexpected or deeply personal. These conversations will become part of the Map of Memories, a growing digital archive celebrating the people, places and moments that make this port city so unique. Together, they create a living portrait of Walyalup, woven from the voices of its community.
23 August Music Future Treasures Future Treasures showcases emerging local artists whose voices are shaping the future of contemporary music, culminating in a headline performance by indie folk-pop trio The Stamps. Known for their luminous harmonies, heartfelt songwriting and magnetic live shows, The Stamps have quickly become one of Australia’s most exciting young bands. Discover the artists you’ll be talking about for years to come Calling all young bands!!! We’re looking for talented musicians under 18 to perform at Future Treasures alongside indie faves The Stamps! Successful bands will spend the morning working with The Stamps before a huge performance at Victoria Hall on SUN 23 AUG. To apply, send an email to festival@fremantle.wa.gov.au with the following info: Band name Number of members Genre/style of music At least 2 photos A video or audio sample of your music Applications are open now!!
25 August Film Out Loud and On Screen: DADAA AN/OTHER Film Screening Experience a powerful collection of short films that place people with disability at the heart of storytelling. Presented by DADAA, this special screening explores the theme of Huddle through stories of belonging, resilience and connection. Featuring films by and about people with disability from Fremantle and across Australia, the program celebrates the people and places that offer refuge, understanding and strength, while inviting audiences to see the world through fresh perspectives. Stay after the screening for a Q&A with curator Sarah Collins.
25 August, 26 August Music Tides Set within the atmospheric surrounds of the WA Shipwrecks Museum, Tides is an immersive performance where music, moving image and maritime history converge. Led by acclaimed musician Lucky Oceans, the performance flows between composed works and spontaneous improvisation, responding to the mood of the evening and the enduring presence of the Batavia stern. Projected directly onto the stern, striking imagery by Shipwreck Hunters Australia producer and director Brendan Hutchens transforms the historic vessel into a living canvas, illuminating stories from beneath the sea. Like the tides themselves, no two performances are ever quite the same—an unforgettable encounter with music, history and place. 25th 6:00pm:Tickets 26th 6:00pm:Tickets 26th 8:00pm:Tickets
27 August Dance The Genesis Project Dark, witty and witchy, The Genesis Project is a gut-wrenching contemporary dance work about the monstrous embodiment of womanhood. Performed by six captivating dancers, this cinematic production blends contemporary dance, fantastical visual design and sound designed by David Stewart with music composed by Great Statue (Annika Moses). Together, the performers conjure a world that is at once haunting and fiercely transformative, exploring autonomy and the expectations on women to shape-shift. An unforgettable evening of dance that lingers long after the final curtain.
29 August Food Feast & Fire As night falls over Walyalup Fremantle Arts Centre, effigies and sculptures blaze to life alongside the firing of Stewart Scambler’s dragon kiln—a monumental ceramic kiln built especially for the festival. Surrounded by flames, music and shared tables, experience a feast inspired by cultures from around the world, with Patagonian lamb and vegetarian barbecue, Pacific Island pig on the spit and giant paella served fresh from the fire. Galleries open late. With live music from Red Earth Sound System and large-scale fire sculptures illuminating the night, Feast & Fire is a celebration of creativity, community and coming together.
29 August, 30 August Performance The RAFT When a luxury cruise goes spectacularly wrong, a group of unlikely survivors must learn to navigate life together on a single raft. Created and performed by CircusWA’s Youth Academy, The RAFT is a thrilling blend of circus, physical theatre and dark comedy. As friendships are tested and tensions rise, extraordinary acrobatics and inventive storytelling unfold in a hilarious and unpredictable tale of survival, boredom and betrayal. Fast-paced, funny and full of surprises, The RAFT is a celebration of resilience, resourcefulness and what happens when we’re all in the same boat. 29th 7:00pm:Tickets 30th 1:00pm:Tickets 30th 6:00pm:Tickets
