From 13 to 30 November, Fremantle Biennale’s SANCTUARY 25 showcases large-scale public art, exhibitions, installations, live performances, contemporary dance, and music.
Over ninety events and performances are featured – with 115 artists across twenty-five commissions, and nineteen world firsts. Highlights include Room Service in the heritage-listed P&O Hotel; a new venue to this year’s festival, over forty multi-disciplinary artists will take up creative residency within the thirty-one rooms, halls, and balconies of Fremantle’s first-ever hotel – artists invited to occupy the space and create new work by responding to the building’s history.
Other highlights include Pool of Content by Melbourne-based artist duo Wona Bae and Charlie Lawler. Known for site-specific sculptures and immersive installations, the surreal beauty of Western Australia’s neon pink natural wonders will be re-created as a pink lake absorbing Old Customs House.
Wona Bae and Charlie Lawler, Pool of Content for the Fremantle Biennale 2025
Courtesy the artists and Fremantle Biennale, Western Australia
There’s also Nepenthe by London-based artist and filmmaker Lawrence Lek – merging ambient soundscapes, installation art and video game environments in an immersive, simulated multimedia project – and A Predatory Chord by Australian-born, Iceland-based composer and musician Ben Frost; known for experimental, genre-defying compositions, Frost’s immersive and evolving sound and light installation features forty-two suspended speakers in a rhythmic performance of lighting.
The central hub for his year’s festival is the Manjaree Precinct (Bathers Beach), with other venues including The Whalers Tunnel, Victoria Hall, Princess May Park, Moores Building, PS Art Space, WA Maritime Museum, Coles Car Park, and the Naval Store – with Goolugatup Lower Lands and John Tompkin Reserve being venues further afield.
Many of the events and performances are free or low-cost to attend.
