Arts Festival Promised In Western Sydney With New Arts Strategy

The first Western Sydney Arts Strategy in over 25 years has been announced, promising a new arts festival in the area, and giving hope to creatives for more job opportunities and career paths. 

With a funding boost of $5 million, the NSW government is launching the Plan For Western Sydney Arts, Culture and Creative Industries 2025-2028, aiming to give the residents of Western Sydney the opportunity to share their unique stories, tapping into a diverse, creative, and unique population of Australia. 

“Most of Sydney’s major arts institutions are a stone’s throw from the eastern harbour. Western Sydney creatives deserve better, and this a practical plan to start addressing that imbalance,” said Minister for the Arts John Graham.

“No government has delivered a dedicated arts strategy for Western Sydney since Bob Carr in 1999. Once again, this incredibly important area will have a road map.”

The new plan, which hopes to boost opportunities for Western Sydney Creatives, expands on already developed investments, including the delivery of Powerhouse Parramatta, $380 million of cultural infrastructure investments in Western Sydney arts centres, and Create NSW Arts and Cultural Funding Program investment of $3.9 million per annum in Western Sydney arts organisations.

Funding divided between six areas of priority

One of the primary areas of focus is putting First Nations culture, art and creative practice, and leadership central in Western Sydney’s cultural future. To support this, a $500,000 grant will be placed into First Nations art. 

Parliamentary Secretary for the Arts and Member for Granville Julia Finn said putting First Nations culture and art as a priority in the new plan was especially important. 

“With its Indigenous and the rich migrant history, there is no place in the world like Western Sydney. These creative communities are full of amazing talent and their voices deserve to be heard,” she said. 

$2 million of funding will be used to develop a major Western Sydney arts festival, growing local, national and international audiences by investing in programming, platforms and partnerships. 

A Strategic Partnership fund will support co-funded initiatives with arts and cultural organisations, councils, universities, and businesses. This funding will help focus on the priority of growing creative careers through building connections with education providers, government and creative industries. 

The plan was developed with the Western Sydney Arts Alliance and a working group of local Western Sydney arts experts.

“This landmark strategy acknowledges the systemic inequities long faced by artists and organisations in our region and affirms the vital role of the small-to-medium sector in shaping Western Sydney’s cultural identity,” said a spokesperson for the Western Sydney Arts Alliance.

“Placing First Nations artists, next generation creatives, D/deaf and disabled artists and culturally diverse communities at its centre, the Plan invests in actions that elevate local voices and stories. It recognises the arts as a powerful force for connection, cultural cohesion and economic contribution – locally, nationally and globally.”