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NSW ARTS AND CULTURAL POLICY RECOGNISES WSAA AS VITAL PART OF THE SYDNEY’S ARTS ECOLOGY
12 December 2023
We are encouraged by the recognition of Western Sydney as a vibrant creative region that is valued for its contribution to the State and the nation, and the recognition of the Western Sydney Arts Alliance as an important part of the arts ecology.
The Western Sydney Arts Alliance submitted a strong case for support to the NSW Arts and Cultural Policy Review which has been recognised in the final report.
The NSW Government Arts, Culture and Creative Industries Policy is definitely a step in the right direction, particularly for Western Sydney. The state’s first arts, culture and creative industries policy commits the government to advocating for the value of culture, to enabling and investing in culture with the whole of government.
Despite Western Sydney being home to 50% of Sydney residents, and 10% of Australians, in the 2015-23 period, the region received less than 3.5% of state cultural infrastructure funding (excluding funding for Powerhouse Parramatta), less than 10% of funding awarded across various Create NSW programs; and only 3.4% of federal arts funding between 2015 and 2023. Despite being hit hardest by COVID-19 lockdowns, Western Sydney only received 1.7% of federal RISE funding for post-pandemic economic recovery. In the 2015-22 period, the Federal government’s per capita arts subsidy in Eastern and Western Sydney was, respectively, $54.95 and $7.59. Western Sydney received just over $31.6 million (12%) of the State’s funding for arts and culture allocated to Sydney between 2020-2022, while Eastern Sydney received the remaining $227.9 million — this equates to $102.76 subsidy per capita in Eastern Sydney and $12.05 in Western Sydney.
Download the full report here
Alliance SUBMITS TO NSW ARTS AND CULTURAL POLICY
21 September 2023
The Western Sydney Arts Alliance submitted a strong case for support to the NSW Arts and Cultural Policy Review.
The NSW Government should and can unlock the full potential of arts culture and the creative industries through equitable geographical investment in arts and culture across NSW.
Since the 1970s, Western Sydney’s arts and cultural sector has been characterised by over achievement and underfunding. A huge proportion of talent which is incubated in Western Sydney ends up on and in metropolitan and international mainstage platforms and institutions. The MO of Western Sydney’s Small-to-Medium arts organisations is to focus on youth and to foster meaningful collaboration with artists that reflect our local communities, and leads to the cultivation of new audiences that are disenfranchised by the overwhelmingly Eurocentric, metropolitan arts landscape, particularly at the level of major institutions. In Western Sydney’s decentralised, "bottom-up" approach, arts orgs work with councils and other local stakeholders to deliver arts events which activate our local communities, increase foot traffic and trigger flow on effects for local businesses.
The NSW Government should focus the greatest energy and resources with a commitment to end geographical inequity in arts and culture across NSW. The NSW government should harness the energy, skill and cultural workforce of Western Sydney and equitably fund Western Sydney’s small to medium arts and cultural sector. This will ensure their sustainability and will profoundly impact NSW’s People, Infrastructure and Audiences.
Despite Western Sydney being home to 50% of Sydney residents, and 10% of Australians, in the 2015-23 period, the region received less than 3.5% of state cultural infrastructure funding (excluding funding for Powerhouse Parramatta), less than 10% of funding awarded across various Create NSW programs; and only 3.4% of federal arts funding between 2015 and 2023. Despite being hit hardest by COVID-19 lockdowns, Western Sydney only received 1.7% of federal RISE funding for post-pandemic economic recovery. In the 2015-22 period, the Federal government’s per capita arts subsidy in Eastern and Western Sydney was, respectively, $54.95 and $7.59. Western Sydney received just over $31.6 million (12%) of the State’s funding for arts and culture allocated to Sydney between 2020-2022, while Eastern Sydney received the remaining $227.9 million — this equates to $102.76 subsidy per capita in Eastern Sydney and $12.05 in Western Sydney. The government must address this systemic inequity.
Download the full report here
Alliance CALLS OUT HIP HOP BAN AT EASTER SHOW
After public statements criticising the hip hop ban at the Sydney Royal Easter Show, organisers pulled back the parameters of their ban, saying they wanted to prohibit music that contains offensive language or “aggressive tones”.
The Western Sydney Arts Alliance published a media statement on the ban. Western Sydney is the home of slam poetry, rap and hip hop culture - the most vibrant and exciting literature and music being created in Australia today. Western Sydney's artists tell authentic and compelling stories from our unique perspective as Australia's most culturally diverse region.
WSAA calls for this ban of rap music at the Easter Show to be retracted. This is an alarming precedent of cultural policing that actively discriminates against artists and story-tellers, many of whom call Western Sydney their home.
Western Sydney artist L-Fresh argued for hip-hop in The Guardian, who quoted the Western Sydney Arts Alliance.
He said that the Conscious hip-hop program at Campbelltown Arts Centre provides workshops on songwriting as well as mentorship for pursuing a career in music, and gives young people a sense of direction in life.
Photograph: L-Fresh, Courtesy of Dan Himbrechts/AAP
Alliance calls for equity as new report reveals stark cultural funding divide
Compelling data released in the State of the Arts in Western Sydney 2023 report spotlights what many in Western Sydney’s creative communities already know: that despite the diversity, talent, richness and depth of impact our cultural activity demonstrates, it remains vastly under-resourced when compared with other parts of Sydney.
Western Sydney Arts Alliance, representing 33 arts and cultural organisations across the region, welcomes the report and its priorities. The Alliance urges whoever forms the next NSW Government to increase support and establish a dedicated Western Sydney investment strategy. The Federal Government and local Councils also have a critical role to play in addressing this inequity.
Despite Western Sydney being home to 50% of Sydney residents, and 10% of Australians, the region received less than 3.5% of state cultural infrastructure funding (excluding funding for Powerhouse Parramatta), less than 10% of funding awarded across various Create NSW programs; and only 3.4% of federal arts funding between 2015 and 2023. Despite being hit hardest by COVID-19 lockdowns, Western Sydney only received 1.7% of federal RISE funding for post-pandemic economic recovery.
These figures are brutal, yet there are opportunities. The Western Sydney arts ecology is vibrant and dynamic. We are home to a young, highly educated and rapidly growing population; and over 51,000 indigenous Australians.
“Western Sydney has a palpable creative energy and deep cultural knowledge. Its communities of artists and audiences are passionate and dedicated, part of a creative economy that is intergenerational, multifaith and fluent across many languages. Blacktown is home to almost 400,000 people and yet received less than 1% of arts and culture funding.” - Alicia Talbot, Blacktown Arts
“Casula Powerhouse celebrates the arts and cultural expression of people from over 150 countries speaking over 140 different languages. People here deserve to have access to high-quality experiences and facilities that awaken their interest in the arts and develop their talents and audiences. Equitable funding will expand access for all to arts that reflect their diverse experiences, and our role as incubator and launchpad for Western Sydney artists, who create some of the most interesting, exciting and important work in Australia today.” - Craig Donarski, Director, Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre
With equitable per capita cultural funding Western Sydney has the potential to flourish. It’s already a place people choose to live, work, learn, create and participate – but equitable funding guarantees greater opportunities, stronger pathways to employment, education, participation, enjoyment, wellbeing and creative practice.
The report, produced by Western Sydney University, outlines a series of key priorities for the future of arts and culture in Western Sydney. The first, fundamentally, is a commitment to minimum per capita funding across three tiers of government.
Penrith Performing & Visual Arts sits at the heart of a growing city, making meaning and enriching the lives of our community and – like so many small to medium arts organisations – doing lots with very little, and rapidly outgrowing facilities. We create pathways and opportunities for artists and work incredibly hard to build our programs to keep offering the community transformative cultural experiences (and sometimes just great fun). We would welcome an investment strategy that enables us to build on the work that’s already being done across the Western Sydney arts ecology, with artist employment, audience experiences and community (and industry) wellbeing at its core. – Krissie Scudds, CEO Penrith Performing & Visual Arts
Per capita cultural investment has the potential to accelerate growth in the sector and to scaffold local skills development and education, helping to redress the imbalances in availability of tertiary training in arts and culture.
“Facilitating access to arts and cultural programs is key to building the social cohesion and economic growth enabling our communities to flourish and succeed,” said Mayor of Campbelltown’s, George Greiss.
“Campbelltown is part of one of the fastest growing regions in Australia, and Campbelltown Arts Centre has played a leadership role for decades in delivering arts and cultural programs that give voice to our community. Equitable funding particularly for arts programming will ensure our region continues to thrive as a cultural hub, nurturing the talents of Western Sydney artists and sharing our stories.
I welcome this report and commend Western Sydney University for highlighting the priorities for the future of arts and culture in Western Sydney.”
This study follows on from the 2015 Deloitte report – Building Western Sydney’s Cultural Arts Economy, which also identified funding and infrastructure inequities, making a series of recommendations, most which have not been implemented.
The Western Sydney Arts Alliance supports the State of the Arts in Western Sydney 2023 Report, its findings, priorities and recommendations and welcomes the opportunity to work with partners and government to achieve positive outcomes to secure the future for arts and culture in Western Sydney.
Download the full report here.
WSAA SUBMITS TO national cultural policy REVIEW
The Australian Federal Government has committed to delivering a new National Cultural Policy by the end of the year to establish a comprehensive roadmap to guide the skills and resources required to transform and safeguard a diverse, vibrant and sustainable arts, entertainment and cultural sector now and into the future.
The submissions that were made public, including the Western Sydney Arts Alliance’s contribution, are available online here.
Review panels will advise the Minister for the Arts, the Hon Tony Burke MP and are listed here.
Arts and cultural organisations were asked to submit their responses to five pillars of policy:
First Nations first: recognising and respecting the crucial place of these stories at the centre of our arts and culture.
A place for every story: reflecting the diversity of our stories and the contribution of all Australians as the creators of culture.
The centrality of the artist: supporting the artist as worker and celebrating their role as the creators of culture.
Strong institutions: providing support across the spectrum of institutions which sustain our arts and culture.
Reaching the audience: ensuring our stories reach the right people at home and abroad.
The Australian Government its landmark National Cultural Policy - Revive: a place for every story, a story for every place, on 30 January 2023. Revive is a 5-year plan to renew and revive Australia's arts, entertainment and cultural sector. It delivers new momentum so that Australia's creative workers, organisations and audiences continue to thrive and grow, and so that arts, culture and heritage are re-positioned as central to Australia's future. The WSAA is preparing its response to the policy.
Read the full policy here.
