A case study in collaborative web development that delivered professional results for a not-for-profit arts organisation.
Regional Arts WA supports creative communities across Western Australia. Their old website wasn’t keeping up as it had become slow, difficult to manage, and was falling short on accessibility. Users were struggling to find relevent information, and staff were spending too much time trying to make updates.
Working to a lean budget, we completely rebuilt their digital presence. The result is a site that’s faster, fully accessible, and easy for their team to manage without relying on developers.
The challenge
Regional Arts WA (RAWA) came to us with a clear brief. They needed a website that worked harder for their organisation and the communities they support.
The existing website had become increasingly difficult to manage and over time, performance and usability issues had stacked up:
- The site was slow to load, especially for regional users on variable internet connections
- It relied on outdated plugins and software that couldn’t be safely updated due to outdated digital infrastructure
- The backend was overly complex, making everyday updates a slow and frustrating process
- Accessibility compliance was patchy, which didn’t align with their commitment to inclusion
- SEO issues were preventing valuable content from reaching the right audiences
These are challenges we see often. Many organisations evolve quickly but don’t always have the time or internal resources to keep their digital infrastructure up to date. Through no fault of their own, the site had simply become too difficult to maintain and no longer reflected the quality of RAWA’s work.
Their goals were clear. They wanted a fast, accessible, and easy-to-manage website that reflected their brand and worked across all devices.
Our approach
Rather than diving straight into development, we started with requirements gathering workshops. These are sessions that focus on understanding the organsiation’s vision and pain points. In every one of these workshops, we would ask: “If you had a magic wand, what would the perfect RAWA website do?”
This collaborative approach influenced everything that followed. We worked with a professional, engaged team at RAWA. Their clarity of vision, genuine care for their community, and collaborative spirit made every meeting productive and enjoyable.
Our approach focused around:
- Mobile-first design. Speed and usability across all devices, with regional users front of mind
- Weekly check-ins. Regular meetings to keep the project aligned and moving forward
- Transparent communication. Video status reports and shared documentation gave the team full visibility
- Collaborative decisions. Features were scoped, discussed, and agreed together
What we built
We designed and built a custom WordPress site, tailored to the needs of the RAWA team. No page builders, no off-the-shelf themes, and no bloat. Everything was created to be fast, flexible, and future-proof.
Custom block system
We created a library of custom WordPress blocks that work together seamlessly. Content editors can now build complex layouts without developer input.
- Layouts are chosen via dropdowns, not code
- All blocks are built directly into WordPress core for performance and stability
Universal theming system
The custom theming system we built for RAWA lets content creators apply consistent styling across blocks with a single dropdown. There are more than 25 brand-approved colour combinations available. This allows the RAWA content team to:
- apply visual hierarchy without touching design tools
- reinforce messaging with intentional use of colour
- keep the entire site on brand, without limiting flexibility
This system works across most of the custom blocks, so once someone learns the basics, they can apply them everywhere.
Empowering content creators
We designed the backend for people who don’t write code. Editors can:
- create pages and layouts quickly
- preview styling before publishing
- stay consistent with pre-approved styles
- focus on content, not formatting
There is no technical knowledge required.
Intelligent content management
We also built custom systems that reduce admin time and improve usability.
Funding opportunities
Funding is a core part of Regional Arts WA’s work, so it was essential that these opportunities were easy to update and even easier to navigate. We designed a custom system that automates key actions, reducing admin time for the team and making it simpler for users to find what’s available, what’s coming up, and what’s closed on the main funding page and each separate opportunity.
- Application buttons display only when a program is open
- Expired opportunities are automatically archived
- Editors set the key details, and the system handles the rest
Partner showcase
We created a content relationship system where editors can tag any content with a relevant partner, which in turn automatically adds that content to the RAWA Parterships page.
- Partner pages update automatically to include related stories, events, or funding
- No manual linking required
- Visitors get a complete picture of each partner’s activity
- Search engines see an immediate relationship between certain content and partners
Stories and news
News and story modules support multiple layout options, so content can be presented in the most engaging format without additional tools.
Performance and accessibility
Speed improvements
The original site was sluggish, with Google Page Speed Insights and Lighthouse scores in the 50s and 60s. The rebuilt version consistently scores above 90 with many pages hitting a perfect 100.
“You don’t have to make a cup of tea while you wait for pages to load anymore.”
Sophie Matthewseon – Content Strategist at Regional Arts WA
Accessibility compliance
The new site meets WCAG standards, in particular:
- Clear and consistent heading structures
- Proper colour contrast
- Full keyboard navigation
- Screen reader compatibility
Search engine visibility
We implemented a solid SEO foundation:
- Clean URL structure
- Editable meta descriptions across all content
- Structured data for improved discoverability
- Clean and efficient code for Technical SEO
- Redirects to preserve existing traffic and rankings
Simplified plugin setup
The old site was running almost 40 plugins. We reduced that to just 10 essential ones, improving both speed and stability.
Training and long-term success
As with all of our web projects, we provided a full training library to support the team after launch. Every major feature is covered with a video tutorial, and a corresponding bullet point guide.
This means:
- New staff can onboard quickly
- Existing staff can manage content with confidence
- No need to rely on developers for routine updates
RAWA now has full control over their content, layout, and site structure.
The result
The new Regional Arts WA website is faster, more accessible, and significantly easier to manage. Their content is easier to find and update, and the site reflects the professionalism and care behind their work.
Following the launch, we also delivered a content strategy workshop to help the RAWA team make the most of their new platform. You don’t need to be a website client to book one of those, by the way.
Working with the RAWA team was incredibly rewarding and enjoyable. Their professionalism, collaborative approach, and deep commitment to their community made this project memorable.
The collaborative approach meant no surprises, no scope creep, and no last-minute issues. Every feature was built with intention, every decision made together, and every challenge solved through honest communication with a team we genuinely enjoyed working alongside.
Meeum the dream team!! Such a pleasure working with you Sam! We are thrilled with how it turned out. Thanks for all your mentoring along the way.
Alysha Saunders – Manager Strategy and Partnerships at Regional Arts WA
Looking to improve your website?
We work with arts organisations, not-for-profits, and businesses who need a site that’s fast, accessible, and easy to manage.
If you’d like to work with a team who understands how to get you there, get in touch.
For over fifteen years, Elyse has worked to build thriving companies. She has spent her career nurturing organisations, their culture and the people within them.
She has founded and exited her ...