Arts and cultural tourism refers to travel experiences centred on creative life, heritage and cultural expression. This includes visiting galleries and museums, attending festivals and live performances, engaging in First Nations cultural experiences, exploring heritage places, public art,
literature, music, food culture and creative workshops.

What is this resource?
A set of tips, examples and opportunities to support arts and cultural tourism in NSW.
The resource has a particular focus on regional NSW.

Who is it for?
This resource is designed to be used by three key groups:
● Artists and cultural organisations
● Tourism operators and event organisers
● Enabling agencies and Councils
These sectors often work in different ‘silos’. This resource is about bringing them together and exploring how to work for mutual benefit.

What can I use it for?
● Get to know more about cultural tourism in section 1
● Skim the ‘quick tips’ in section 2 to get ideas
● Browse the examples in section 3 for inspiration
● Use the templates in workshops or planning days
● Share the resource with colleagues who might find it helpful
● Reference the resources, and the research report, in decision-making and investment

How to use it
● This interactive PDF is designed to help you move around the document, taking you quickly to sections that are most relevant and of interest
● The tabs at the top of each page jump to those main sections of the resource

DOWNLOAD: Resources-for-supporting-arts-and-cultural-tourism ➡️

Background to this resource

Since 2024 the NSW Regional Arts Network has strategically invested in cultural tourism The Regional Arts Network (comprising fifteen Regional Arts Development Organisations) identified cultural tourism as a key focus area for 2024 and 2025. They agreed that cultural tourism is relevant across all areas of NSW, and that it would be timely to develop a state-wide regional strategy.
In 2024, RAN commissioned Patternmakers to collate existing information and data on the current level of cultural tourism activity in Regional NSW and produce a report. Patternmakers was also asked to investigate the extent of cultural tourism experiences not captured by other datasets.

See the full 2024 research report ➡️

Acknowledgements
These resources were prepared for the NSW Regional Arts Network by Andrew Gray as part of the Regional Futures initiative and Tandi Palmer from Patternmakers, with the support from the NSW Government through Create NSW and advice from Destination NSW.

How was this resource developed?
In 2025, the NSW Regional Arts Network (RAN) commissioned this new set of resources to support arts and cultural tourism in regional NSW.
Working in collaboration with research agency Patternmakers and Destination NSW, and supported by Create NSW, it interviewed a range of stakeholders and gathered examples of how arts and cultural tourism is working in different communities around the State.

About the Regional Arts Network

The Regional Arts Network is a group of fifteen Regional Arts Development Organisations (RADOs), developed over the past 30 years with core funding from the NSW Government and through local Council support.

The RADOs provide services and leadership for sustainable arts and cultural development in regional NSW, including creating opportunities for creative professionals and strategic projects.

Find your local RADO