Barking Gecko Theatre & AWESOME Arts Merge to Form Barking Gecko Arts
We have exciting news for the Western Australian arts community; last night, Minister for Arts and Culture, Hon. David Templeman MLA, announced the official coming together of Barking Gecko Theatre and AWESOME Arts, officially merging to become Barking Gecko Arts.
This momentous decision marks a return to our roots for both of our organisations, which initially began as one entity before we split in 1996. Over the years we have always remained committed to our shared mission of delivering exceptional, meaningful arts experiences to kids across Western Australia.
As Barking Gecko Arts, we will be led by Ryan Taaffe, who is the current CEO of Barking Gecko Theatre. Ryan will be supported by Sam Longley, Artistic Director, Jenny Simpson, Festival Director and our collective teams from both Barking Gecko Theatre and AWESOME Arts, which will allow us to expand our reach and amplify the impact of our arts programming.
“Reuniting Barking Gecko Theatre and AWESOME Arts is like coming home,” said Ryan Taaffe. “By bringing our two organisations back together, we will be able to offer even more transformative arts experiences for kids across WA.”
We will continue to deliver world-class theatre performances, the AWESOME Arts Festival for Bright Young Things and a kaleidoscope of arts experiences and creative learning programs. Alongside our enhanced ability to provide these engaging opportunities for young audiences across the state, we have a refreshed brand identity, reflecting our exciting new chapter.
The state government has also expressed their support for our merger, recognising the positive impact it will have on the cultural landscape and the future of arts for kids in WA.
“This merger is a fantastic development for the arts community,” said Minister for Arts and Culture, David Templeman. “It’s wonderful to see two much loved organisations come together to inspire even more young people through the arts.”
Keep your eyes peeled for our new brand look and feel, launching on Barking Gecko platforms on September 30th. The organisation will operationally merge in January 2025.
We look forward to our new beginnings and look forward to continuing our legacy of excellence and creativity.
