PICA Perth: a visitor guide to contemporary art

The Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts, usually called PICA, presents changing exhibitions and live performance in the Perth Cultural Centre. Its programme brings together visual art, contemporary dance, experimental theatre and music, with work by artists from Western Australia, elsewhere in Australia and overseas.

Exhibitions are free, making PICA an accessible place to try something unfamiliar. Check the programme before choosing a day: gallery visits, performances and workshops have different schedules, and the building closes for exhibition changeovers.

Visitor information checked on 25 September 2026.

PICA at a glance

What to expect at PICA

PICA works with artists at different stages of their careers, from recent graduates to established practitioners. The exhibition programme includes solo presentations, group shows and commissioned works, while the Screen Space presents moving image art. What you encounter depends on the season, so use the exhibition listings to choose a visit that interests you.

The annual Hatched exhibition focuses on recent art school graduates. Other projects respond directly to the PICA building and its surroundings. This gives visitors several ways into contemporary art: through the materials an artist uses, a subject they investigate or the way a work changes your experience of a familiar space.

You do not need specialist knowledge to visit. Start with the exhibition introduction, spend time with a few works that catch your attention and ask the front desk if you would like more context. If a film or performance is your main reason for coming, check its running time and any booking requirements first.

Exhibitions and the October changeover

Programme update checked 16 October 2026: PICA says its galleries are closed for installation, with an opening-night event on 16 October and the next exhibition season from 17 October to 20 December. Confirm the current visitor notice before a daytime visit during the changeover. Opening-night arrangements are separate from normal noon-to-5pm gallery hours.

Hatched: National Graduate Show 2026

Hatched 2026 ran from 1 August to 4 October 2026 and has finished. It is retained here as background to PICA's annual graduate exhibition, rather than an activity available on the day of your visit.

Longer-running commissions

Jen Berean and James Carey's Soft Grates is the 2026 Judy Wheeler Commission, listed from 6 February to 20 December 2026. Its sculptures and sound work explore water moving through the building and the infrastructure around it.

At the entrance, Tyrown Waigana's mural Cement Frogs the Ghost of a Swamp draws on Perth's wetland history and the motorbike frog. It is listed until 20 December 2026. These longer display periods do not mean the indoor galleries stay open during installation closures.

The October-December exhibition season

PICA lists three new exhibitions from 17 October to 20 December 2026:

• Circular Economies, presented with SPACED, brings together work developed through artist residencies in regional Western Australia.
• Shannon Lyons' Cafe coming soon is a survey exhibition of sculptural installations exploring buildings, hospitality and social exchange.
• Jumana Manna's Foragers screens in the Screen Space. The 2022 film combines documentary, fiction and archival material to explore Palestinian foraging traditions and restrictions on access to wild plants.

Opening hours, tickets and photography

The usual gallery hours are noon to 5pm, Tuesday to Sunday. Check PICA's visitor information for installation closures and public holiday changes before travelling. An exhibition's date range alone does not confirm that the galleries are open on every day within it.

Performance times are separate from gallery hours. Tickets are available online, by phone or at reception, with the box office also opening one hour before performances. Follow the listing for the particular show you want to attend.

PICA permits non-commercial photography without flash or tripods. Commercial photography needs approval from the gallery. Ask staff if you are unsure how the policy applies to a particular work or performance.

Finding the current entrance

From Northbridge, approach through the James Street cul-de-sac beside Lot Twenty, opposite the Alex Hotel. Follow the paved walkway to PICA's western entrance, facing The Blue Room Theatre. The information desk is just inside on the ground floor.

For arrivals at Perth Station or Perth Busport, the WA Government's construction access guidance directs visitors heading to PICA via Yagan Square, William Street and James Street. Use the Transperth Journey Planner for your service, then check the final walking route.

If you are coming from the museum, State Library or the higher part of the Cultural Centre, consult the current precinct access map. Construction separates parts of the precinct, and the connecting routes use stairs or lifts through the nearby car parks. Allow extra time when combining venues.

Parking near PICA

PICA has no public car park of its own. Nearby options are the Cultural Centre car park at 2 Roe Street and the State Library car park at 15 Francis Street. Both list accessible parking bays.

City of Perth Parking currently offers two free hours on weekends and public holidays at the Cultural Centre car park, with charges for additional time. The offer and its conditions specify eligible entry and exit times. The State Library car park is not one of the participating locations.

Check the operator's pages for current rates, opening hours and access notices. Parking concessions and gallery opening days are separate matters; a public holiday parking offer does not confirm that PICA is open.

Accessibility and visiting with children

PICA's visual story explains arrival and the spaces inside. It confirms a ramp at the entrance and lift access to all gallery levels. The guide is useful for planning around the building as well as preparing for an unfamiliar visit.

The gallery's access services include large print exhibition information, wheelchairs for visitor use and access for guide and assistance dogs. Companion Cards are accepted for performances; contact the box office to arrange the companion ticket. Low sensory sessions can be requested, while audio description, tactile tours and interpreted events have specific arrangements. Ask ahead about the support you need.

For families visiting before 4 October 2026, Tali Koto's free Made of Many Things project in the PICA Hub offers activities with words, found objects, shapes and patterns. It runs from 8 August to 4 October, with guided drop-in sessions listed on Saturdays from 1pm to 4pm during that period.

Check the current family programme for later visits. Activities change with the season, and the Hub's making activities do not mean exhibition artworks can be handled. For performances, read the individual age and content advice before booking for children.

The building and nearby places

PICA occupies the former Perth Central School. The organisation was incorporated in 1989, and its official history explains how the school building became a home for contemporary visual and performing arts.

The location makes it practical to plan a broader Cultural Centre visit. Nearby institutions include the Art Gallery of Western Australia, WA Museum Boola Bardip and the State Library of WA. Choose a second venue around its opening hours and your interests, then use the current access map to move between them.

Picabar occupies part of the PICA building and provides a place for food or a drink. Check its own trading information if you are planning around a meal. It has a separate schedule from the galleries.

For more places to compare, see our Perth art galleries guide. Keep the current PICA exhibition dates in mind when arranging your day, especially if you are travelling specifically to see one artist or show.