You might have seen news or posts in recent weeks about the bulk of regional galleries in NSW missing out of Create NSW 4 Year Multi-year funding. Of the 20 or so regional art galleries across the state who would have applied for this funding only six were funded, and only three of these are in regional NSW.
Three of the 15 Regional Arts Development Organisations and a number of other important regional arts have also missed out on the 4-Year funding.
We know first-hand the value of regional arts development organisations and programs. That our regional public galleries run excellent, high quality, respected, world class programs, that they are valued by their communities, that they contribute to economies, tourism, education and wellbeing, is also well established. These organisations missed out not because they were not of value but because the state government funding pool for the arts is dangerously low.
The regional public galleries in the Central West are owned and majority funded by local councils – staffing, running and maintaining the galleries. The Create NSW funding supports their programming – the commissions, extra exhibitions and education programs that they can hold. Yes, state budgets are under pressure, but it is unrealistic and untenable to shift these pressures to local governments.
“It is an equity issue – all regional artists deserve to have equal access to these services for the good of their practice, development and their communities,” says Regional Arts NSW.
What are people doing?
Arts OutWest and the wider regional arts network have been aware of this situation for some months. There is huge concern across the arts sector. Our peak bodies (including Regional Arts NSW and Museums & Galleries NSW) have been working and lobbying hard behind the scenes.
They and we are calling upon the NSW government to step in and make sure that all 15 RADOs and the other affected regional arts organisations and regional public galleries receive funding to keep their doors open and to continue to provide their essential services to communities.
What can you do?
If this concerns you, we invite you to draw attention to this issue by reading and sharing the articles and interviews linked below.
We invite you to contact your local state MP. You can find out who yours is here.
You can write to the current Arts Minister, John Graham here.
Thank you for your support.
What about Arts OutWest?
Arts OutWest, with all the regional arts development organisations, was moved from guaranteed funding into the competitive four-year funding category for the first time last year. We were successful in our 4-Year Multi-year funding application, receiving $217,000 p.a for 2026-2028 (the same level of funding we have had for many years, no CPI adjustment). This will be a juggling act going forward with stagnant funding and increased costs, but we are very pleased to be able to continue offering our services to the NSW Central West.
Some of the news coverage on this issue:
Artshub: Regional galleries ‘not sexy enough’ for funding
Regional Arts NSW: CEO Dr Tracey Callinan OAM talks about advocacy and funding issues
IMAGE: Our executive director Kylie Shead was interviewed by 7 News Central West about the regional galleries funding issue