Head On withdraws 2027 Perth application after reduced city sponsorship
The future of the internationally recognised Head On Photo Festival in Perth is in doubt after the event’s organisers withdrew their funding application for 2027 when the City offered substantially less than requested.
The not-for-profit Head On Foundation, which staged its first Perth season this year from 1 February to 1 March, had applied to the City’s arts and culture sponsorship programme for $156,150 to help deliver a proposed 2027 festival. The foundation said it expected around 90,000 visitors to attend a programme of exhibitions, digital installations in public spaces including Forrest Place, walking tours and a photographic slideshow with live music.
| Item | Amount (AUD) |
|---|---|
| City cash and in‑kind support for 2026 event | $125,300 |
| Head On request from arts sponsorships for 2027 | $156,150 |
| City staff recommendation / offer | $34,227 |
| Total expected cost of 2027 event | $514,204 |
After learning the city intended to provide a total of $34,227, the Head On Foundation withdrew its application. Council papers show city staff had assessed the festival proposal and scored it 54.44 out of 100, recommending the lower level of support.
"Some elements did not meet expectations relative to the value of the investment."
The assessment panel acknowledged the 2026 festival had contributed to city vibrancy and cultural activation and that it met its targets. However, the panel identified shortcomings it said undermined value for money, including limitations in wayfinding and site connectivity, issues with cohesive storytelling across the programme, and inconsistencies or errors in the application — plus questions about how attendance projections were calculated.
Council reallocated funds to other arts bodies
Councillors voted unanimously at their 25 August meeting to approve revised sponsorships that increased support to other local arts organisations. The Head On withdrawal allowed the city to boost contributions by $15,000 to PICA, $5,000 to WA Opera and $10,000 to The Lester Prize.
- The Head On Foundation had asked for a six-week festival running from 6 March to 6 April 2027 and estimated a total event cost of $514,204.
- City staff judged the festival’s application to fall short in some operational and planning aspects despite recognising its cultural impact in 2026.
- The funding shortfall prompted the organisers to withdraw, leaving the festival’s Perth return uncertain.
The withdrawal leaves open immediate questions for Perth residents and cultural stakeholders: whether Head On will seek alternative partners or funding to maintain a Perth season in 2027, and how the city will articulate its criteria for cultural investment going forward. The festival had brought a mix of exhibitions, talks, workshops and public events to the centre of Perth this year, including large-scale displays in civic spaces and walking tours that activated the city’s public realm.
Perth has in recent years sought to promote cultural activation in the central business district as part of a broader civic renewal. A decision that reduces the likelihood of a returning Head On season will be closely watched by venue operators, artists and residents who attended this year’s programme and by those monitoring the city’s approach to supporting events that drive visitation and public programming.
PerthNow contacted the Head On Foundation for comment about plans for a 2027 Perth festival; council papers include confidential correspondence from Head On festival director Moshe Rosenzveig that was circulated to councillors at the meeting.
The outcome of this funding dispute will shape what kinds of large-scale cultural events are likely to appear in Perth’s public spaces in the coming year and how the City balances investment across competing arts organisations.
