The NSW government’s decision to withhold funding from 18 regional art galleries, including the Broken Hill City Art Gallery, has left the art community in a state of uncertainty. The galleries, which are run and supported by local councils, rely heavily on annual funding from Create NSW’s Arts and Cultural Funding Program (ACFP). This funding is crucial for the galleries to continue to operate and provide a platform for local artists to showcase their work. One of the galleries that has been affected is the Broken Hill City Art Gallery, which has been a central part of the city’s cultural scene for decades. The gallery is run and supported by the Broken Hill City Council, but it also relies on the ACFP funding to continue its operations. The council’s general manager, Jay Nankivell, expressed his concerns about the lack of funding, stating that the gallery had received $100,000 per year in the past through the program and that it was concerning to miss out on the latest round. The impact of the funding cut is not limited to the galleries themselves, but also affects the local artists who rely on them for support and opportunities. For example, artist Kelly Leonard, who moved to Broken Hill four years ago to be a part of the local art scene, said that the gallery is a vital resource for her. “The art gallery really is a centrepiece, a location where we can connect, develop opportunities for each other,” she said. “If it were not for the gallery, I would have to travel interstate or to Sydney for workshops and professional development, which would be a significant disadvantage.”
Ms Leonard’s sentiments are echoed by artist Wendy Martin, who has been painting and exhibiting in Broken Hill for the past 50 years. “Any funding cut would be a major setback,” she said. “Art plays a major part in the tourism industry and attracts a huge amount of people to our city.”
The funding cut also affects the local economy, as it reduces the number of opportunities for local artists to showcase their work and attract tourists to the area. “Lots of artists have been given a career start by having their work displayed in the gallery, including myself,” said Ms Martin. Other regional centres that were affected by the funding cut include Wagga Wagga, Orange, and Armidale. Regional Arts NSW chief executive, Tracey Callinan, expressed concern that the galleries across the state are struggling to produce good work. “We’re now really concerned that those regional galleries across the state are going to struggle to produce good work,” she said. “The funding is highly competitive, and we’re worried that some galleries may not be able to recover from this setback.”
The funding is offered in two, four and eight-year cycles, and Broken Hill council hopes to be named as a recipient of two years’ worth of funding in September. The gallery works at least two years ahead on planning for exhibitions, so it really needs that long-term funding support,” said Ms Leonard. The NSW government has stated that the ACFP is highly competitive, and that the full funding profile of support for regional galleries will be available following the assessment of the two-year funding program.
| Year | Funding |
|---|---|
| 2019 | $100,000 |
| 2020 | $100,000 |
| 2021 | $100,000 |
| 2022 | $0 |
| 2023 | $0 |
| 2024 | $0 |
The lack of funding is not just a setback for the galleries, but also for the local community, which relies on them for cultural and social activities. As the ABC stated in a statement, “The NSW government recognises the significant contributions made by regional art galleries to the arts and culture ecology across regional NSW.”
The decision to withhold funding from the galleries has left the art community in a state of uncertainty, and it remains to be seen how the galleries will recover from this setback. However, with the support of the local community and the recognition of the importance of regional art galleries, there is hope that the galleries will be able to continue to operate and provide a platform for local artists to showcase their work.
“The full funding profile of support for regional galleries will be available following the assessment of the two-year funding program,” said a Create NSW spokesperson.
In the meantime, the galleries are working hard to find alternative sources of funding and to continue to provide a platform for local artists. The Broken Hill City Art Gallery is no exception, and it is working to find ways to reduce costs and increase revenue. As the art community continues to navigate this uncertain time, it is clear that the importance of regional art galleries cannot be overstated. These galleries provide a vital service to the local community, and they play a major role in promoting the arts and culture in regional areas.
*
: A gallery that is located in a regional area and provides a platform for local artists to showcase their work. *
: A government program that provides funding to regional art galleries and other cultural institutions. *
: The study of the relationship between art and culture, and the ways in which they impact and are impacted by the environment. Highlights:
* The decision to withhold funding from regional art galleries has left the art community in a state of uncertainty. * The galleries are struggling to produce good work due to the lack of funding. * The local community relies on the galleries for cultural and social activities. * The NSW government recognizes the significant contributions made by regional art galleries to the arts and culture ecology across regional NSW. Key Statistics:
* 18 regional art galleries have been affected by the funding cut. * The Broken Hill City Art Gallery has received $100,000 per year in funding from the ACFP. * The funding is offered in two, four and eight-year cycles. * The full funding profile of support for regional galleries will be available following the assessment of the two-year funding program.