Following a significant amount of consultation with the WA youth arts sector, ArtsWA advertised via tender for the establishment of a young people's arts network.

The Youth Arts Network (YAN) – which has now evolved into Propelarts Inc., was successful in its application to ArtsWA in 2000 with the support of three auspicing bodies: Country Arts WA, Community Arts Network WA (CANWA) and Youth Affairs Council of WA (YACWA). The application was revised following the withdrawal of CANWA as a partner in 2001.

In April 2002, funding commenced from the State of Western Australia through ArtsWA in association with the Lotteries Commission.

The first staff member, Sunny Drake, was employed in July 2002. Following a significant branding process, including a change of name, Propelarts became incorporated in April 2003. Propelarts launched regionally in July 2003 at the Regional Arts Conference in Karratha, and in the metro region in August 2003 in Perth, and continue to evolve into who we are today!