Multi-million Investment in the Arts Across NSW Delivers Major Boost For Arts and Culture in Newcastle

The NSW Government is strengthening the backbone of the NSW creative ecosystem, with a major multi-year injection through the state’s flagship Arts and Cultural Funding Program.

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More than 80 arts and cultural organisations across NSW will share in close to $17 million per annum through 4-Year Multi-year funding, representing a significant investment in the sustainable growth of the state’s arts and cultural sector.

Organisations that collectively employ thousands of artists and cultural workers spanning many artforms and engaging diverse audiences will be supported through until the end of 2028 to strengthen skills, develop strong collaborative partnerships and deliver vibrant arts and cultural experiences for NSW.

“This multi-year investment of close to $17 million in the arts provides much needed stability to organisations that underpin the state’s creative sector. It is terrific to see $7.15 million of this funding flow on to 36 organisations across regional NSW, said the Minister for the Arts, John Graham.

“This funding to organisations across NSW will generate lasting positive impact to the broader creative ecosystem and everyone who engages with arts and culture, increasing vibrancy and inspiring communities for years to come.”

Among the organisations funded by Create NSW’s 4-Year Multi-year Funding until 2028 in Newcastle include:• $245,000 for Newcastle Writers Festival• $195,000 for Newcastle Museum• $180,000 for Tantrum Youth Arts• $140,000 for Flipside Dance Inc.• $120,000 for Hunter Writers’ Centre

Member for Newcastle Tim Crakanthorp said, “Newcastle is one of NSW’s biggest arts and cultural hubs and it is fantastic to see three Newcastle organisations receive multi-year funding from the NSW Government.

“I am thrilled to see this investment flowing to our region, giving [recipient/s] the stability of multi-year funding to enable world-class arts and culture to be fostered, created, delivered and experienced locally.”

Highlights from the 4-Year Multi-year Funding investment include:

• A total of 82 organisations funded until 2028, with the investment shared across diverse artforms – from First Nations arts and culture to classical music/choral/opera, community arts and cultural development, dance, digital/experimental/immersive/light art, festivals, literature, multi arts, museums and history, theatre, and visual arts

• Six First Nations arts and cultural organisations, including four organisations receiving multi-year funding for the first time, quadrupling the investment to a total of $1.165 million• A dramatic increase for arts and cultural festivals, with over $1.9 million committed in 2026 and beyond

A major uplift will be felt in regional communities with funding delivered to some of the state’s leading cultural tourism drivers and community arts facilitators. Among the recipients in the regions are flagship festivals, regional galleries, performing arts companies, as well as local government authorities and regional arts development organisations, which provide services and platforms for local artists, as well as grassroots creative and cultural experiences for communities across the state.

The 4-Year Multi-year Funding supports organisations to build long-term workforce capacity, unlock opportunities and make lasting and impactful arts and cultural experiences accessible for all.

For more information about the recipients and the impact of the program, visit create.nsw.gov.au