Cyber breach hits arts trust

Western Australian customers of several major arts organisations may have been impacted by a cyber breach of the digital marketing platform used by the Arts and Culture Trust.

In a message to customers, the Arts and Culture Trust said it had received advice from Wordfly, the vendor it uses to send emails to ticketholders, that its platform was subject to a cybersecurity incident.

The consortium consists of some of the state's largest arts organisations: Barking Gecko Theatre, Black Swan State Theatre Company of WA, Co3 Contemporary Dance, Perth Festival, Tura New Music, West Australian Ballet, West Australian Opera and Yirra Yaakin Theatre Company.

“It has come to our attention that your email address and other non-sensitive data you have shared with our organisation may have been exposed during a cybersecurity incident impacting a vendor we contract with for the communication software we use,” the email read.

“The data impacted in this incident does not include sensitive personal information like credit card numbers or government identification numbers.

“At this time, we are not aware of the data being publicly distributed and/or misused.

“We’re alerting you out of an abundance of transparency and because your privacy is important to us.”

A spokesperson for the Arts and Culture Trust said Wordfly was continuing to investigate and restore its system. 

Until the end of June, the Arts and Culture Trust was called the Perth Theatre Trust. 

The body was renamed after its remit was expanded to oversee all types of art and cultural assets, instead of just theatres, and apply a state-wide lens to its activities. 

It manages arts venues including His Majesty's Theatre, Subiaco Arts Centre and the Albany Entertainment Centre.