New arts company Barking Gecko Arts launched last month with a special opening at the State Theatre Centre WA. L-R: Barking Gecko Arts Board Chair Tony Chong, company CEO Ryan Taaffe, company Festival Director Jenny Simpson, WA Minister for the Arts and Culture, David Templeman MLA and Barking Gecko Arts Board member Emma Jayakumar. Photo: Courtesy Barking Gecko Arts.
In a move that has surprised many in Western Australia, two of the state’s long-running government-funded arts companies are merging into one after 30 years of existing as stand-alone organisations specialising in presenting work for young audiences.
Last month, WA’s Minister for Arts and Culture David Templeman announced that Perth-based Barking Gecko Theatre and AWESOME Arts (aka the AWESOME International Arts Festival for Bright Young Things) will combine and operate as the one organisation known as Barking Gecko Arts.
ArtsHub's Arts Feature Writer Jo Pickup is based in Perth. An arts writer and manager, she has worked as a journalist and broadcaster for media such as the ABC, RTRFM and The West Australian newspaper, contributing media content and commentary on art, culture and design. She has also worked for arts organisations such as Fremantle Arts Centre, STRUT dance, and the Aboriginal Arts Centre Hub of WA, as well as being a sessional arts lecturer at The Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA).
