Arts OutWest is the peak body and regional arts development organisation in the NSW Central West, Australia.
support brings creativity to life.
MISSION:
We advocate for, support and develop meaningful arts and cultural opportunities across Central West NSW communities.
VISION:
Vibrant regional communities, with access to interpret, express and celebrate our stories and place, through a thriving arts and cultural sector with a dynamic creative economy.
VALUES:
YINDYMARRA* Respect. Do Slowly. Be Gentle. Be Polite. Honour.
INCLUSIVE Community, belonging, respect, equity, access.
CREATIVE Creative thinking, courage and pushing boundaries. Valuing artists as leaders.
REGENERATIVE Recovery, change, renewal and preparedness for the future.
INTEGRITY Honest and accountable. With empathy for other people and the environment they are navigating.
*Wiradjuri. Included in consultation with Wiradjuri Traditional Owners Central West Aboriginal Corporation.
STRATEGIC UNDERLYING PRINCIPLES:
Conduits crucial to the successful implementation of our plan: First Nations First, Supporting People, Productive Partnerships, Environmental Empathy, Place – Central to our practice, Effective Communication.
STRUCTURE:
We’re a non-profit incorporated organisation and part of the statewide network of 15 Regional Arts Development Organisations (RADO). We’re the oldest regional arts development program in NSW, starting in 1974.
We’re a member of the Regional Arts Network, Regional Arts NSW and the Aboriginal Regional Arts Alliance.
12 Local Government Authorities are partners and contributors to Arts OutWest. We also receive funding from federal and state government and partner with other funders on projects.
We service 12 local government areas of the NSW Central West.
Strategic Plan
Our 2025-2028 Strategic Plan outlines our Creative Focus areas – the way we decide what work we do. A detailed delivery plan set of KPIs is attached to each of these goals. Our plan aligns to key policies at Federal, State and Local Government levels.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHO DOES ARTS OUTWEST SUPPORT?
Arts OutWest supports the arts, heritage and creative sectors. We support creative practitioners, creative businesses, creative communities and volunteers, community groups, councils, government agencies, NFPs and others living in or making creative work in the NSW Central West.
WHAT IS ‘ARTS’?
Arts OutWest supports the arts, heritage and creative sectors.
The definition of artist includes but is not limited to: writers; visual artists; craft practitioners; actors, performers, producers and directors; dancers and choreographers; musicians; composers; songwriters and arrangers; community cultural development artists and workers; curators, museums, galleries and heritage staff; screen and film makers; fashion designers, textile artists and makers; and those in the creative industries for example graphic designers, game designers etc. We support artists at all levels of their careers, in all artforms.
WHAT DO YOUR SERVICES COST?
Our general services are FREE for those living or creating work in our geographic footprint of our 12 contributing local councils. We also offer an auspicing service for an agreed fee and sometimes take on commissioned projects.
HOW DO I ACCESS ARTS OUTWEST SERVICES?
To access any of our services get in touch with us. Have a chat. Ask a question. Share your projects or ideas.
Send us your event listings or check for the latest opportunities offered by us or others.
DO YOU HAVE FUNDING?
Arts OutWest is a service organisation rather than a funding body – but we do administer some annual small grants.
We provide funding advice, lists of funding opportunities, grant writing support and letters of support for creatives, organisations or projects in or connected to our region. Contact with our executive director.
annual reports
We work on a calendar year and our reports for each previous year are presented at the Annual General Meeting, held usually in May or June. For financial statements accompanying these reports please contact us.
2025 report available at and after our AGM 21 June 2026.
For the 2024 and 2025 years see below both a short 8page SNAPSHOT and the full ANNUAL REPORT.
Watch the ’50 Years of Arts OutWest’ (short film, 2024):
OUR TEAM
Arts OutWest is an independent incorporated association, under the Associations Incorporation Act 2009.
Arts OutWest has two levels of governance: the Committee of Management (to be known as The Board) and the Advisory Committee.
Our staff and board members are all based on Wiradjuri/Wiradyuri country in Central West NSW. Our office is located in Bathurst on the Charles Sturt University Campus.
We employ 2 full-time staff, 4 part-time staff and occasional casual staff or contracted artists servicing the 200,000+ people in our region (across an area 11% bigger than Tasmania).
OUR PARTNERS
Core program
Aboriginal arts development program
Our 12 contributing local councils
Supporting partner
Arts and Health Partner
Kew-Y-Ahn Aboriginal Gallery partner: NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
Member of
Member of Aboriginal Regional Arts Alliance