The free and family-friendly Makuru Arts Festival is returning to Cockburn this winter for its second year, offering a diverse mix of theatre, music, and interactive experiences for all ages. The festival, which debuted in 2025 to great success, will run from June 5 to June 27, featuring 14 events across various venues.
Festival Highlights
One of the standout performances is the award-winning An Imaginary Life, based on the novel by the late David Malouf. This performance will be brought to life by actor Humphrey Bower and live musician Pavan Kumar Hari. Other highlights include music from Australian Baroque, the return of Sunday Afternoon Music curated by Billie Rogers, paint and sip classes, comedic improv, and more.
Creative Producer's Perspective
Creative producer Ella Hetherington emphasized the importance of the festival for local artists. "The 2026 Makuru program brings together some of the most exciting and respected performers in WA and across Australia," she said. "Nationally, the arts sector is experiencing a decrease in funding and dwindling audiences, but it appears there is a wealth of interest and keen audiences in the suburbs. The 2025 Makuru Arts Festival showed that the decentralisation of the arts and taking it to the people outside the major performance houses and out of the CBD could be part of a thriving future for the sector."
New Family Weekend Event
This year's festival introduces a new family weekend event, offering special art experiences for children and young people. On Saturday, June 20, artist Adam Kelly will perform his award-winning show ARCO, including a show for kids at 3pm and a later show at 6pm. ARCO, Kelly's take on living with autism, offers a heartfelt, humorous look into his life and encourages the audience to consider his perspective.
On Sunday, Hamilton Hill’s Memorial Hall will host SPARK Arts Day, designed for primary school children to learn new skills such as puppetry, circus, clowning, dance, music making, and visual arts.
Winter Festival Appeal
Ms Hetherington noted that winter is the perfect time for such an event. "In Australia we rush toward summer festivals and open-air events because our climate supports them so well, yet there always seems to be a surprising lack of winter festival offerings," she said. "In many ways, winter makes sense – it invites us indoors, encourages connection, and creates the perfect atmosphere for intimate, meaningful, artistic experiences."
Community Access to Arts
Cockburn Mayor Logan Howlett highlighted the festival's role in making the arts more accessible. "It’s an invitation for everyone to gather, connect with their community, and be a part of new circles as they experience world-class art, regardless of financial circumstance," he said. "I’m very proud our city can offer these amazing opportunities to our community, especially children and those with limited access to high quality arts experiences."
All events are free except the opening world music cafe show on June 5. Tickets are required for that event.
