Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts (PICA) has announced two major commission opportunities for Australian artists, offering a combined value of over $100,000 to support the development and presentation of ambitious new contemporary artworks.

Now open for applications, the opportunities include the renowned Judy Wheeler Commission valued at $30,000 to support a site-responsive work; and the boorda yeyi Immersive Arts Commission valued at $75,000 to support the development of a new immersive artwork — both set to premiere at PICA in 2027.

Together, the commissions reflect PICA’s longstanding commitment to backing artists at critical points in their careers, cultivating pathways from early development through to major national commissions.

PICA CEO Hannah Mathews said the commission opportunities play a vital role in sustaining artists and strengthening the national arts ecology.

“Commissioning new work is one of the most meaningful ways we can support artists, not only through direct financial investment, but by creating the conditions for experimentation, collaboration and long-term career development. For artists, these opportunities provide time, space and professional support to develop ambitious ideas, while also contributing to a wider arts economy that includes fabricators, technicians, producers, designers, writers and audiences. 

“These commissions are an investment in artistic practice, but also in the creative infrastructure of Australia. PICA has always been a place where artists can test ideas, challenge forms and connect with audiences in bold new ways, and these commissions continue that legacy by supporting work that is ambitious, responsive and deeply connected to the urgencies of our time,” said Mathews.

The Judy Wheeler Commission was established in 2023 through a historic philanthropic gift from the Simpson family, in honour of Judy Wheeler, an enduring lover and supporter of the arts. The annual commission forms part of a decade-long commitment and supports artists to create bold new work that responds to PICA’s architecture and history as one of Perth’s first schools and now a contemporary art space. 

The 2026 Judy Wheeler Commission was awarded to Naarm/Melbourne-based artists Jen Berean and James Carey for Soft Grates, a major site-responsive installation exploring the hidden water systems that flow beneath PICA and through Boorloo. The three-part installation is currently on show at PICA until the end of the year.

Selected through an annual open call, the 2027 Judy Wheeler Commission invites proposals from Australia-based artists at any stage of their career, working across mediums including painting, sculpture, sound, video and installation. The commission includes a $10,000 artist fee, $10,000 towards development and production, and a contribution towards travel expenses.

The boorda yeyi Immersive Arts Program, launched in 2025, is delivered by PICA with support from Founding Patron The Ian Potter Foundation and Principal Patrons Feilman Foundation and Lotterywest. The program is a unique artist development pathway for immersive arts practice, supporting artists from early experimentation and knowledge-building through to major commissions. Now in its second year, the 2026 Immersive Arts Commission represents its next major national opportunity. The commission invites an ambitious, critically engaged immersive work that pushes beyond the screen and into embodied experience. It is valued at $75,000 and includes a $50,000 artist fee and $25,000 in-kind support from PICA. 

The inaugural 2025 boorda yeyi Immersive Arts Commission was awarded to artist collective Friends with Computers (April Phillips, Jordan East and Pat Younis) for Under Waters, an interactive digital installation for presentation at PICA. Bringing together projection, immersive technology and poetic computation, the work reflects the scale and ambition made possible through meaningful commission support.

“Incredible opportunities like the boorda yeyi Immersive Arts Commission give artists the time, trust and support to push an idea further than it could otherwise go,” said Wiradjuri Scottish artist April Phillips. 

“For Friends with Computers, the commission allowed us to build a rich, multi-sensory world with local talent and First Nations collaborators, creating something that is technically ambitious, but also generous, restorative and deeply human.” 

The 2026 boorda yeyi Immersive Arts Commission will premiere at PICA in 2027 and tour to regional Western Australia from 2027 to 2028 with support from ART ON THE MOVE, extending opportunities for audiences to engage with immersive contemporary art across the state. 

Applications for both commission opportunities close 11:59pm AWST on Monday 8 June 2026. Artists are encouraged to apply for commission opportunities via: https://pica.org.au/opportunities/

boorda yeyi is supported by Founding Patron The Ian Potter Foundation, Principal Patrons Feilman Foundation and Lotterywest, and Touring Partner ART ON THE MOVE.

The Judy Wheeler Commission is made possible by the generosity of the Simpson Family.