The Trustees of The Robert Juniper Award for the Arts are proud to announce Charlotte Meagher as the 2024 RJAFTA Scholarship Award Recipient. This prestigious scholarship, honouring the legacy of celebrated artist Robert Juniper, recognises Charlotte’s outstanding contributions to the arts and her dedication to fostering meaningful connections within the community through creative storytelling.

With a background in set and costume design as well as fine art, Charlotte Meagher is passionate about forging alternative pathways for designers. As an avid illustrator, she continually seeks to push the boundaries of theatre and exhibition spaces, exploring their intersections and untapped possibilities. At her core, Meagher identifies as a storyteller, weaving narratives through every aspect of her creative work.

Meagher, a long-time Shire of Mundaring resident, has been an active contributor to its artistic community since her school years at Darlington Primary and Kalamunda Senior High (GATE program). Her involvement in events like Mundaring Hills Open Studios and her 2017 Worn In Worn Out award highlight her early connection to the region’s vibrant arts scene. In 2022 Meagher completed a Bachelor of Performing Arts in Production Design at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA). Her multidisciplinary approach to art spans production design, set-design, illustration, sculpture, and theater-making, showcasing her versatility.

In 2024, Charlotte Meagher’s debut exhibition, Mineral Town at RookARI (part of Propel’s Kickstart program), earned significant recognition for its exploration of environmental impact, guilt, and connection, inspired by her childhood in a mining-driven economy. Her sensitive use of contemporary “bogan” iconography sparked meaningful discussions.

Meagher has also led community-focused initiatives, including an “artivist” collective with the Conservation Council of Western Australia, fostering dialogue on climate change through art. Projects like her papier-mâché sculptures, inspired by marine life, exemplify her blend of artistic practice and activism.

As the 2024 Robert Juniper Award for the Arts scholarship recipient, Charlotte Meagher will use the scholarship funds to expand her repertoire as a designer, visual artist, and dramaturg, focusing on her project The Human Intellligence Image Generator, set to be staged in 2025. In collaboration with a sound designer, projection artist, lighting designer, and another artist, the performance will explore emotions like loneliness in a tech driven world, using a parody of AI to question how algorithms shape reality yet miss human nuance. Reflecting on the award, Meagher said:

"This scholarship represents an incredible opportunity for me to continue exploring the intersection of art and community. Growing up in the Perth Hills, I’ve always been inspired by the people and stories that surround me. I want to create spaces that foster connection, provoke meaningful conversations, and address social issues in innovative ways. The Robert Juniper Award for the Arts  will help me bring these visions to life."

The Robert Juniper Award for the Arts is designed to support young artists who demonstrate exceptional promise and align with the values of creativity and community championed by its namesake. The RJAFTA Trustees are thrilled to recognise Charlotte’s accomplishments and look forward to seeing how she will continue to inspire and enrich the local and wider arts communities.

For further details about Charlotte’s work, visit her website at www.charlottemeagher.com or follow her on social media (@charlottefmeagher).