Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts
| Established | 1980 |
|---|---|
Parent institution | Edith Cowan University |
| Affiliation | CILECT |
| Director | David Shirley |
| Students | 1,287 |
| Address | 500 Wellington Street , Perth , , Australia |
| Campus | Urban |
| Colours | Dark purple |
| Website | Official website |
The Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) at Edith Cowan University (ECU) is a performing arts school located in Perth, Western Australia. Established in 1980, it is notable for being the most comprehensive performing arts school in Australia by disciplines of study and has produced some of Australia's most prominent graduates in the field.
WAAPA was based at ECU's Mount Lawley campus until late 2025. In early 2026, WAAPA completed its move to the ECU City campus. Designed by architectural firm Lyons, the "vertical campus" is situated at the Perth City Link adjacent to Yagan Square. The precinct features the Minderoo Centre for Performance Excellence, which houses six world-class performance venues and hosts over 300 public performances annually. The campus is a centerpiece of the Perth City Deal, positioned directly above the underground Perth Busport and adjacent to the Perth railway station to maximise public accessibility.
As of 2019, the executive dean of the school is David Shirley. Prior to being assigned, he was the director of the Manchester School of Theatre and chair of the Federation of Drama Schools in the United Kingdom.