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NSW State Budget

Crowds at the Australian Museum. Photo: Alice Gage. Source: Australian Museum.

Arts NSW, 2015-16 NSW State Budget, 26 June 2015

The NSW State Budget continues to deliver strong support to the arts, cultural and screen sector in NSW with $316.4 million for 2015-16.

This includes $255.7 million for recurrent and capital grants to the state cultural institutions (the Sydney Opera House, Australian Museum, Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences, State Library of NSW and the Art Gallery of NSW), $50.8 million for the Arts and Cultural Development Program and almost $10 million for Screen NSW.

This funding will ensure NSW remains home to a vibrant arts and cultural sector that invites participation and contributes to the state’s economic growth. These policy objectives are central to Create in NSW, the state’s ten year arts and cultural policy framework.

First year priorities include:

  • an initial payment of $1 million in additional funding for Western Sydney artists and arts organisations through the Arts and Cultural Development Program, part of the Government’s $7.5 million commitment over four years to support local artists in Western Sydney
  • $8.6 million over four years to enable free entry for young people under 16 years to the Powerhouse Museum and Australian Museum
  • $10 million over two years to investigate opportunities to relocate the Powerhouse Museum; and
  • $11 million over two years for the planning of the Walsh Bay arts precinct

The NSW Government is committed to supporting the arts and cultural sector with increased funding through the Arts and Cultural Development Program. The Government has also maintained its investment in the state cultural institutions to enable them to continue to modernise and revitalise their services and facilities.

Screen NSW will receive nearly $10 million to support the development and production of screen projects in NSW, promote screen culture and market NSW as Australia’s premier destination for screen production.

The NSW Government has also announced the new $600 million Cultural Infrastructure Program, part of Rebuilding NSW: State Infrastructure Strategy 2014. The Cultural Infrastructure Program is in addition to the Government’s ongoing support for the state cultural institutions and the Arts and Cultural Development Program.

With the Government’s $316.4 million investment and Create in NSW now in place, NSW has a strong framework underpinning the long term development of arts and culture in the state.