Venue Booking Guidelines

Guidelines for community groups using the Perth Cultural Centre

Purpose

Background

The Government of Western Australia is committed to retaining civic spaces in recognition of their contribution to democratic practice.  Civic spaces provide a setting for debate, the exercise of rights as citizens, and a place where people of diverse backgrounds can meet as a community. 

The Perth Cultural Centre is the city’s main public space.  It is the home of the State’s major civic institutions and also has public open space that is freely available to all community groups.

These guidelines have been developed by the Department of Culture and the Arts as the agency responsible for managing the open spaces of the Perth Cultural Centre.

Who can use the open spaces of the Cultural Centre?

Designated areas of the Cultural Centre (refer to map) are available at no cost to individuals and community groups to undertake activities such as:

• concerts, performances, displays (eg: music, dance, visual art);
• protests and political rallies;
• awareness campaigns (eg: health, environment);
• multicultural events; and
• children’s events.

Conditions of usage

The Cultural Centre is not available for commercial activity.  This includes ticketed events and promotions/advertising or sales by or for commercial organisations.  However, not for profit organisations such as the Perth International Arts Festival, and the cultural organisations within the Cultural Centre, can conduct ticketed events. 

Other limitations on using the Cultural Centre are based on the possibility of there being an adverse impact on other organisations and patrons in the precinct.  This includes, but is not limited to:

• excessive noise;
• antisocial and illegal activities, ie consumption of alcohol, offensive language, display of offensive material, and racial vilification;
• impediments to the free movement of pedestrians, including those with disabilities;
• impediments to emergency access/egress, including vehicles; and
• potential damage or defacement to structures and facilities.

Please note, applicants will be required to provide a copy of a certificate of currency for public liability.  Further, a risk management plan will be requested if deemed necessary by the Department.  It is expected that all users will apply the principles of Occupational Health and Safety and other relevant legislative requirements when on site.

The applicant, upon acceptance of use, holds the Department of Culture and the Arts indemnified against all claims which may be made against it (or the State Government) for damages or otherwise, in respect of any loss, damage, death or injury caused by, or in the course of, or arising out of the use of the venue, or the property of the Perth Cultural Centre, during all periods when such a venue is used.

The applicant is responsible for any damage incurred that can be attributed to them and must remove all refuse from the site.

How to book one of the designated areas of the Cultural Centre

Persons or community groups interested in booking one of the designated spaces need to fill in an application form and send it to the Department of Culture and the Arts.

The application form is available on the Department’s website (www.dca.wa.gov.au).  Alternatively, the form is available at the Department’s reception desk, Level 7 Law Chambers Building, 573 Hay St PERTH  WA  6000.

The completed application form can be forwarded to the Department via:

• Email cultural.centre@dca.wa.gov.au
• Fax Facilities Booking: 08 9224 7301
• Post Level 7 Law Chambers Building, 573 Hay St PERTH  WA  6000.

The application form, once signed by the relevant person within the Department, constitutes an agreement on usage.  A copy of this signed application will be returned to the applicant and may include additional comment from the Department relating to conditions of usage.  Please allow 10 working days before the event to process the application.

A map of the Cultural Centre is also available on the Department’s website.  This map highlights and numbers the areas available for booking.