Wagga’s arts community has refuted claims regional NSW is a ‘cultural ghetto’ but admits there is a funding gap.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
A recent article labels regional NSW as a black hole for arts funding after it was revealed the area only receives money in a trickle-down effect.
An estimated $1 billion could be spent on relocating Sydney’s Powerhouse Museum while Wagga’s facilities advocate for far less.
“It wasn’t news to me,” manager of the Museum of the Riverina, Luke Grealy, said.
“I know that regional museums in NSW struggle to get substantial funding.
“It’s an issue that regional museums have been raising for a long time.”
The museum is funded by Wagga City Council and grants from Arts NSW but more funding would mean the proper care for significant collections in the region.
“A lot of regional museums hold collections that are important to the state’s history,” Mr Grealy said.
“I think there’s plenty of room for the stage government to contribute more to regional museums.”
But compared to smaller towns across the region, Mr Grealy said he would not call the area a cultural ghetto.
Museums in Temora, Tumut and Narrandera are largely staffed by volunteers with less funding than Wagga’s facilities.
Eastern Riverina Arts’ executive officer Scott Howie said the work being produced by Riverina artists dispels the notion there is no culture in the country.
“Despite any inequality of funding, we are making work here that is innovative and professional that challenges any notion that regional NSW is a cultural ghetto,” he said.
“But it’s easy to look at those dollar amounts and wonder what might be achieved with the same amount in regional NSW.”
The upcoming regional arts conference and festival in Dubbo will have a strong Riverina representation of almost 40 people.
Mr Howie said the quality and culture of regional arts should not be in question.
“The work in Dubbo will speak for itself,” he said.
Half of Eastern Riverina Arts’ funding comes from the state government while the rest is supplied by council and Arts NSW.
Regional artists are used to seeking their own funding but Mr Howie believes there should be a more even distribution of funds between city and country.
“There’s obviously money out there but it’s being chosen to be put in Sydney's cultural infrastructure,” he said.
If more funding was to make its way to regional NSW, Mr Howie wants to see it fill the pockets of the region’s artists.
“We can put art in any space but we need artists to make it,” he said.