Kate Shearer told the Banner last week she was excited to be building on the successes of outgoing director Karen Hadfield.

She is keen to provide quality events at the festival next year for the growing number of families with young children in the western suburbs.

"It's about recognising that children and young people are legitimate residents of our community, so they deserve the very best possible art made for their cognitive level."

She emphasised that this would not be at the expense of the adult program.

Ms Shearer returns home to Footscray after four years as artistic director of Canberra's Jigsaw Theatre Company.

She was responsible for creating and commissioning multi-artform works for children.

During the next three months, she plans to meet local artists and community groups to plan for the next Big West. The appointment will be the last act of Big West chairwoman Yoni Prior, who is stepping down after eight years at the helm.

Last year's Big West Festival, themed Home is Where the Art Is, had 59 events that attracted an audience of 32,000. It is the largest community-based arts festival in the west.