Creatives in Western Sydney will have greater opportunities to build careers and share their unique stories with the world, through the first Western Sydney arts strategy in over 25 years.
Backed by a $5 million funding boost the Government is launching the Plan for Western Sydney Arts, Culture and Creative Industries 2025 - 2028, which aims tounlock the full potential of one of Australia's fastest growing, dynamic and diverse creative communities.
To achieve that objective the plan lays out a strategy with six priorities:
- Unlock investment equity: repairing historic underfunding through transparent, proportional funding aligned with the region's scale, population and cultural vitality.
- First Nations First: placing First Nations arts, culture, creative practice and leadership as central to Western Sydney's cultural future.
- Grow creative careers: supporting the creative workforce through direct funding and strengthening collaboration with education providers, government and creative industries.
- Strengthen creative ecosystems: supporting artists, groups and organisations to develop and present new work, connect with peers and communities.
- Showcase Western Sydney: growing local, national and international audiences by investing in programming, platforms and partnerships.
- Unlock spaces for culture: working with local and state government, cultural institutions, and infrastructure agencies to unlock and develop new creative spaces.
The plan is backed by an initial first year investment of $5 million, which includes:
- $2.15 million for a Strategic Partnerships Fund - supporting co-funded initiatives with arts and cultural organisations, councils, universities, philanthropists and business.
- $2 million to scope and deliver a major Western Sydney arts festival.
- $500,000 in new First Nations arts grants (up to $100,000 per project).
- $350,000 to strengthen the Western Sydney Arts Alliance and deliver a micro-grants program to Western Sydney creatives.
This new investment builds on ongoing investments including the delivery of Powerhouse Parramatta, $380 million of cultural infrastructure investments in Western Sydney arts centres, and Create NSW Arts and Cultural Funding Program investment of $3.9 million per annum in Western Sydney arts organisations.
These commitments build on the NSW Government's 10-year Creative Communities policy and delivers on its promise to make arts and culture accessible, visible and celebrated across the state - not just in the Sydney CBD.
The plan was developed with the Western Sydney Arts Alliance and a working group of local Western Sydney arts experts, chaired by Julia Finn the Parliamentary Secretary for the Arts.
Minister for the Arts John Graham said:
"Most of Sydney's major arts institutions are a stone's throw from the eastern harbour. Western Sydney creatives deserve better, and this a practical plan to start addressing that imbalance.
"No government has delivered a dedicated arts strategy for Western Sydney since Bob Carr in 1999. Once again, this incredibly important area will have a road map.
"A poet in Bankstown or a painter from Penrith should have the same chance of success as someone from the eastern half of the city.
"With the arrival of the new airport, Powerhouse Parramatta and big investments in local arts centres - Western Sydney has a very exciting chapter ahead of it. Its artistic and cultural life will be a big part of that story, but we have to back the local creatives and the communities that nurture them."
Parliamentary Secretary for the Arts and Member for Granville Julia Finn said:
"Western Sydney is home to more than 2.6 million people - and some of the most exciting creative talent in the country - yet for too long, artists in the region have faced barriers to funding, visibility and opportunity.
"The release of this arts and cultural plan for Western Sydney is the first step to addressing these issues.
"With its Indigenous and the rich migrant history, there is no place in the world like Western Sydney. These creative communities are full of amazing talent and their voices deserve to be heard.
"The accompanying $5 million fund will address the historic inequity in funding allocation to Western Sydney arts, culture and creative industries, providing opportunities for the many benefits to flow into the community and facilitating sustainable sector growth."
The Western Sydney Arts Alliance said:
"The Western Sydney Plan Working Group welcomes the release of the Plan for Western Sydney Arts, Culture and Creative Industries and the opportunity to have contributed to its development. This landmark strategy acknowledges the systemic inequities long faced by artists and organisations in our region and affirms the vital role of the small-to-medium sector in shaping Western Sydney's cultural identity.
"Placing First Nations artists, next generation creatives, D/deaf and disabled artists and culturally diverse communities at its centre, the Plan invests in actions that elevate local voices and stories. It recognises the arts as a powerful force for connection, cultural cohesion and economic contribution - locally, nationally and globally.
"We also welcome the recognition of the Western Sydney Arts Alliance as a lead partner in the Plan's delivery and, as a sector, look forward to working with government, industry and community to realise its vision."
