What is a visual story?

In this handy resource, you’ll find a step-by-step visual and written guide on how to visit PICA.

A visual story helps prepare you for your visit by showing what to expect upon arrival and what you might experience throughout the different spaces.

How to access the PICA building

There are two entrances to PICA. The main entrance is in the Perth Cultural Centre opposite the State Library car park.

You can enter through our wide wrought-iron front gates and then go through the automatic sliding glass doors. 

Through the glass sliding doors is our entrance foyer.

The lift is to your left and can take you down to the ground floor or up to the first floor. There are galleries and toilets on both floors.

Or you can take the steps down to the ground floor.

Entering via PICA Bar

After 11am, you can also enter the building through PICA Bar. Here, you’ll need to go down two steps or use the ramp to enter PICA Bar.

If you use the ramp, it’ll take you here.

Go through PICA Bar and then head through the double doors that open to the PICA Hub on the ground floor. Please note that the double doors are not automatic and are not always open due to noise or weather considerations.

This is what the PICA Bar entrance looks like from the PICA side.

Ground Floor

On the ground floor, you’ll find our front desk.

Here, you can leave any large bags or other items and they’ll be stored safely behind the desk.

Our gallery staff work at the front desk. They can answer questions about the exhibitions and how to access the galleries, toilets or other facilities.

You can also buy tickets to our performances here.

Central Gallery – Ground Floor

On the ground floor next to the front desk is the double-height Central Gallery with views to the floor above.

It is connected to two smaller open-plan exhibition spaces. 

The galleries may be light or dark, depending on the exhibition.

When they’re dark, the galleries can look like this:

There are low padded vinyl benches throughout the building where you can sit and rest.

PICA Hub – Ground Floor

The PICA Hub is our community space where you’ll find free artmaking activities. It’s located on the ground floor between the front desk and PICA Bar.

This is a place where you can sit, relax and make art for as long as you like.

Performance Space – Ground Floor

If you’ve come to see a performance or talk in the Performance Space, stay on the ground floor.

The entrance to the Performance Space is on your right when you enter the foyer, before the entrance to the Central Galleries and next to the front desk.

This is what the entrance looks like:

When you go inside the Performance Space, it may be a little dark but one of our team will be on hand to help if needed.

You can take the wheelchair lift or steps down to the performance seating.

This is what the steps look like.

You can sit in any seat you like.

Getting to the first floor

To get to the first floor, you can take the lift or stairs from the ground floor.

Go past the front desk towards the PICA Hub. You’ll find the lift and stairs to your left.

Here is the lift.

And the entrance to the staircase.

The staircase wraps around the lift, like this:

First Floor

Once you arrive on the first floor, you’ll find the West End Gallery on your right past the spiral staircase.

West End Gallery – First Floor

The West End Gallery is one large open space. It may be light or dark, depending on the exhibition.

One of the gallery team will be roaming the first floor and can answer any questions you might have.

As you exit the stairs and the lift, the Screen Space will be on your left. Here, you can watch video works.

You can also access the mezzanine balcony from here.

The mezzanine balcony overlooks the Central Galleries on the ground floor.

This is what the mezzanine balcony looks like:

Toilets – First Floor

There are toilets, including accessible toilets, available on the first floor and ground floor. There are baby change facilities in the first floor toilets.

The first floor toilets are at the end of the balcony, on the same side as the lift and Screen Space.

This is what the first floor toilets and baby change facilities look like.

Toilets – Ground Floor

The ground floor toilets and accessible toilet are located in PICA Bar, which opens daily at 11am. You can enter PICA Bar through the double doors in the PICA Hub.

The double doors are not automatic and are not always open due to noise or weather considerations. Our team at the front desk can help you access the ground floor toilets in PICA Bar if the double doors are closed.

The toilets are down the corridor in PICA Bar, pictured here:

Need more information?

If you have any feedback on PICA’s visual story or questions about access to PICA, please contact us at (08) 9228 6300 or info@pica.org.au.

You can also find more access information about our facilities, including various dimensions, on our visit page.