Cultural tourism development in the NSW Central West region is one of the key strategic focus areas of Arts OutWest.

“Cultural Tourism is visitor participation in ‘cultural’ activities such as attending theatre, concerts or other performing arts, cultural festivals, visiting museums or art galleries, and indigenous culture activities.” Report: Cultural Tourism in Regional NSW (Regional Arts NSW Network and Patternmakers, 2024)

In our 2025-2028 strategic plan we aim to:

1.  Working with the local tourism network, local government and Destinations Central West NSW to support and develop arts and cultural tourism across the region.
2. Identify, explore and develop business opportunities with arts venues, artists and creative communities.

Culture Maps Central NSW

In 2020 we launched Culture Maps Central NSW – arts and culture maps for finding public art + heritage + galleries + shopping for handmade + aboriginal experiences + arts and cultural events in vibrant Central NSW.

NSW Regional Cultural Tourism Report

The Regional Arts Network (RAN) commissioned a research report in 2024 on Cultural Tourism in regional NSW, undertaken by Patternmakers and funded through Create NSW.

Arts OutWest will co-lead on phase 2 of this project in 2025.

Partners

The Culture Maps Central NSW website is a partnership with Central NSW Joint Organisation of Councils and Regional Development Australia Central West with active support from the tourism teams at each local council.

Kew-Y-Ahn Aboriginal Gallery is a partnership with NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.

Other project partners listed in case studies below.