Some of NSW's leading arts organisations such as APRA AMCOS, MusicNSW and Sydney Fringe Festival have called out the state government following the poorest funding round in history.
The second round of the Create NSW Arts & Cultural Projects fund had a success rate of just 2.7%; while 222 applications were made to the fund with a combined total of $8,296,017, just six projects were funded to a total of $256,029.
The news comes despite NSW accounting for 70% of Australia's creative exports and 42% of Australia's creative industries employment, according to an independent PWC analysis.
"With such low funding and so few successful projects across the state, artists will begin exercising the choice to base themselves elsewhere," a joint letter issued by arts organisations reads.
"With only one regional project funded, the viability of artistic practice and touring beyond our cities is also a major concern. Create NSW’s $100m Regional Cultural Fund invests in infrastructure, and we urge the NSW Government to make similarly ambitious investment in the creation and presentation of new work in our regions."
The letter concludes, "NSW Minister for the Arts Don Harwin shares our passion for the arts and understands how essential the sector is to the vision that powers this state. As the Minister leads the development of NSW’s next arts policy, it will be vital that his parliamentary colleagues support him in committing to the arts ambitiously.
"With the state election approaching, we call upon all parties to present their vision for a NSW whose artistic courage leads the nation and inspires the world."
See a list of all the organisations calling for more funding below.
4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art
Accessible Arts
ACE Open
APRA AMCOS
Art Pharmacy Consulting
The Arts Centre Cootamundra
Arts North West
Arts Northern Rivers
Arts on Tour
Arts Out West
Artspace
Australian Design Centre
Australian Society of Authors
Australian Theatre for Young People
Bondi Acting
Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Co-operative
Casula Powerhouse
Cementa inc.
Centre for Contemporary Photography
Contemporary Art Organisations Australia
Contemporary Art Tasmania
Critical Stages
Culture Scouts Walking Tours
Eastern Riverina Arts
Eastside Radio 89.7FM
Electronic Music Conference
FBi Radio
Firstdraft
Gertrude Contemporary
Global Rhythms Music Festival
Indigenous Art Code
Institute of Modern Art
Legs On The Wall
The Lock-Up
Merrigong Theatre Company
Monkey Baa Theatre Company
Museum of Contemporary Art Australia
MusicNSW
National Association for the Visual Arts
NORPA
NSW & ACT Performing Arts Centres Association
Outback Theatre for Young People
PACT
Performance Space
Playwriting Australia
Regional and Public Galleries NSW
Regional Arts NSW
Seymour Centre
Sydney Fringe Festival
Sydney Improvised Music Association
Theatre Network NSW
Tortuga Studios Inc.
Urban Theatre Projects
Wellington Street Projects
Western Riverina Arts
West Space
The Wired Lab
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