Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts, Contemporary art center in Central Perth, Australia

The Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts occupies the 1896 former Perth Boys' and Girls' School at 51 James Street, a Federation Free Classical building of face brick on a random stone plinth with a corrugated iron hipped roof. Its two original entries remain: the triple-arched boys' porch on the west and the girls' entry at the base of the tower, now the main entrance. Inside, former classrooms open into a ground-floor performance space and gallery.

The 1896 building at 51 James Street was built as the Perth Boys' and Girls' School, designed by William Atkins under a £10,452 contract and opened on 18 January 1897 by Education Minister Edward Wittenoom. It held 500 boys on the ground floor and 500 girls above. The school closed in 1959 and the Perth Technical College used it as the James Street Annexe until TAFE vacated it in July 1988. Refurbished by Donaldson and Warn, it opened as PICA on 8 November 1991.

The institute presents work by Australian and international artists through exhibitions, performances, and workshops shown throughout the year. Visitors encounter changing programs that bring contemporary art to life in different forms.

PICA occupies the 1896 former Perth Boys' and Girls' School at 51 James Street, in the Perth Cultural Centre beside the State Library and a museum. The main entry is the base of the projecting tower on James Street, the former Girls' School door; the old Boys' School porch with its triple arched entry faces the western side. Inside, a timber and steel stair rises from the reception area, and a cafe sits in two former ground-floor classrooms at the north-eastern corner.

The institute runs dedicated residency programs for emerging artists to develop experimental works within professional exhibition spaces. This opportunity draws artists seeking to deepen their practice and gain visibility for their work.