WA World Music Institution Closes After Government 'Declines' Funding

Fremantle world music institution Kulcha has decided to close its doors after 30 years, with the organisation and venue blaming the State Government for a lack of funding.

Arguably Western Australia's biggest support of multicultural art – particularly live music – the Kulcha venue has provided a hub for exhibitions and live shows. Most touring world music acts played the room, including Soweto Gospel Choir and the ARIA Award-winning Tawdros Brothers.

Today, however, the President of Kulcha, which traces its origins back to 1983 when it formed as the North Perth Ethnic Music Centre, said, “Being good at what you do is not sufficient to guarantee a future in the Arts in WA. The rising costs of running an arts business and the lack of support for our multicultural artists from the State Government, means that after 30 years Kulcha is no longer able to survive.”

All upcoming events – including their flagship Oz Concert – have been cancelled.

Kulcha CEO Jon Cope said, “This is a very sad outcome for our multicultural community in WA.”

The organisation said today in a statement that the State Government “declined to assist” the organisation in January, when they were seeking recapitalisation funds of $150,000 to $200,000. They said that the Office Of Multicultural Interests also decided not to support their grant applications.

“The Kulcha Board then moved to seek formal financial consultancy advice on its solvency position,” they wrote, “which has subsequently resulted in the Department Of Culture And The Arts withdrawing Kulcha's grant funding.”

Today representatives from the Community Arts Network Western Australia and peak music body WAM have expressed regret over the organisation's plight. During peak periods, Kulcha – who moved to Fremantle in 1996 – were hosting an average of four events and a week as well as their own festival. It is estimated that over 50 percent of that was music related.

A meeting for members to discussion the current situation and the next move for the organisation will be held soon at a time and location to be advised.