Some signs of relief in the arts community – although not all bases are covered – as the state government’s Create NSW 2-Year Multi-Year funding was announced last week.
There is a feeling that the strong, collegial, advocacy from state bodies and state-wide networks really did have an impact in higher level decisions about the size of the funding pool for the 2-Year round, and making sure regional NSW wasn’t forgotten.
After such wide-spread disappointment around the limited number of organisations and programs supported by the state government’s 4-year Multi-Year Create NSW funding, the announcement of the 2-Year round has been largely positive for regional NSW.
Congratulations in the Central West to Orange Regional Gallery, Orange Regional Museum, Bathurst Regional Art Gallery and Local Stages at Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre; a big congratulations (and sigh of relief) for our colleagues at Arts Mid North Coast and South Coast Arts; Congratulations to our partners Regional Arts NSW and the Aboriginal Regional Arts Alliance (ARAA) – all successful in 2-Year funding (although some did receive less than applied for).
There are still gaps, in our region and in our nearby regions (regional galleries programs, arts organisations, one RADO). As part of the RADO network and with our state peak bodies we’ll continue to look for ways to support these arts organisations or services (bearing in mind our own funding is limited).
State-wide, 62 arts organisations received 2-Year funding, with regional organiations making up half. This includes ten regional art galleries funded (two of four in the Central West).
See the full Create NSW announcement
Minister for the Arts John Graham said: “Regional arts, including regional art galleries, are the big winners from this cultural funding boost.”
Regional Arts NSW CEO Dr Tracey Callinan told The Guardian “This is a really positive response and one that acknowledges that regional arts has great value, but its own challenges too,” she said, “Not everybody has been funded, but that is the reality of a funding program.”
The chief executive of Museums & Galleries of NSW, Brett Adlington, told The Guardian that the organisation was “delighted” by the outcome of the ACFP after being “nervous about what was coming…” and “There’s still some challenges out there for organisations who weren’t funded and perhaps some organisations might need to rethink their plans. But generally we’re very happy and very grateful.”
Round 2 of Project funding was also announced, including one for an individual artist in Mid-Western Regional Council LGA in the Creative Steps New Work category; and Mid-Western Regional Council to support the Royston Harpur exhibition at Mudgee Arts Precinct.
As we shared in our last enews, Arts OutWest was successful in the 4-Year Multi-Year funding round (along with 11 other RADOS in the state), although none of us received the full uplift/ increase requested (we received the same funds as 2025, without CPI increase).