Arts funding boost for Western Sydney

13 January 2009

Premier and Minister for the Arts, Nathan Rees, announced Western Sydney will get a $1.89 million dollar boost under a new $40.1 million major arts and cultural initiatives funding program.

Premier Nathan Rees said both established and developing arts organisations in Western Sydney will benefit from the 2009 Arts Funding Program, which supports all art forms including music, theatre, dance, literature, museums, history and visual arts and craft.

“I am committed to fostering a bright and dynamic future for Western Sydney as a hub of culture and the arts in NSW,” Mr Rees said.

“I strongly believe that Sydney does not and should not have a monopoly on the arts -I want to see it infuse the suburbs, streets and homes of Western Sydney.

“The arts and culture are at the heart of our community identity and heritage.

“A flourishing arts environment creates opportunities for us to explore to our story as a nation, and as a community.”

Some of the Western Sydney initiatives to receive a 2009 Arts Funding Program grant include:

• $300,000 triennial funding for Information and Cultural Exchange Inc for innovative cultural and digital media programs, supporting its expertise in community partnerships
• $110,000 for the development of Campbelltown Arts Centre exhibition spaces including a new major exhibition space
• $150,000 for Casula Powerhouse’s 2009 program
• $150,000 for Penrith Performing and Visual Arts Ltd’s 2009 program.
  

This funding is in addition to the $300,000 the organisation recently received for programming for Q Theatre.

“This is about bringing the arts to a wider audience and encouraging more people to enjoy an active participation in the arts.

“It also builds on the NSW Government’s $40.6 million Western Sydney Art strategy to provide arts and cultural activities and infrastructure to the region.”