NSW Arts and Cultural Policy Framework reate C NSW in Cover photo: Maria Esquivel in I’m Not Yours, 2012. FORM Dance Projects. Photo © Dom O’Donnell. Art this way. Photo © Alex Wisser 2013. Excellence 2 Section 4.3 3 NSW will be known for its bold and exciting arts and culture that engage our community and reflect our rich diversity. 01. Executive Summary 8 02. A Policy for our Diverse Communities 14 Regional NSW 16 Western Sydney 18 Metropolitan Sydney 20 03. State Cultural Institutions 22 04. Excellence 26 Innovation: fresh ideas, platforms and curiosity 28 Leadership: stewardship for the future 32 Aboriginal arts and culture: celebrating Aboriginal artists and community cultural expression 38 International connections: placing our arts and culture in a global context 42 Revitalising infrastructure: creating new opportunities 46 05. Access 52 Participation: encouraging increased involvement in arts and culture 54 Arts for young people: providing a stronger voice 60 06. Strength 64 Professional development: unlocking the full potential of artists and cultural practitioners 66 Business sustainability: new markets, new investment models and business capability 70 Networks and partnerships: critical to the sector’s vitality 74 Research and evaluation: informing future directions 80 07. Appendix 84 Terms of reference 84 Uncle John Kelly opening the Consultation 84 2014 Saltwater Freshwater Festival, on Dunghutti country, with a smoking ceremony. Your input 84 Photo © Cassandra Sutton. What you said about… 84 4 5 ‘Arts and culture stimulate Message from the Premier and engage peoples’ and Deputy Premier individual creativity. They build perspectives, creative thinking and ideas of humanity, human beauty and accomplishment. And they tap into parts of ourselves that work, home life and traffic jams do not—inspiring and lifting our sense of self. These The Hon. Michael Baird MP The Hon. Troy Grant MP are relatively high and Premier of New South Wales Deputy Premier of New South Wales largely unmeasurable Minister for Western Sydney Minister for the Arts outcomes and yet we We have a bold vision for our arts and cultural But we know government alone cannot fulfil our know them to be true.’ community, built on the mutually reinforcing ambitions ambitions. We are open to new ideas and investment of excellence, access and strength. The actions in this models, and we invite business, private donors and the policy framework will extend the reputation of NSW broader community to work with us. —Australian Major Performing Arts as the leading state for arts and culture, and will Group response to ‘Framing the support job creation and the visitor economy. This is a policy framework for all of NSW, from Future: Developing an Arts and Greater Sydney to regional and rural communities. We are proud of our artists and our arts and cultural We recognise that NSW is home to 40% of Australia’s Cultural Policy for NSW Discussion organisations. We will partner with them as they total creative industries workforce. The value of this is Paper’, 2013 explore, create and challenge us to see things economic, cultural and social. We recognise that the differently. We also want to ensure the treasures experience of arts and culture is deeply personal, and held by our State Cultural Institutions are accessible we want everyone to have opportunities to participate to everyone across NSW. in the artistic life of our community. The NSW Government, through this policy framework, Through this policy framework our Government will help will play an important role in supporting the build a great future for arts and culture in NSW. development of excellent arts and culture over the next 10 years. Support for artists and arts and cultural organisations as well as the development of major infrastructure is central to our vision. We will ensure the sector is resilient and strong. Our policy framework seeks to build and sustain better partnerships. It is a deliberate whole-of-government strategy with State agencies working closely together on many actions. The framework also recognises that arts and culture provide a platform for international engagement and exchange, with the ability to raise NSW’s global profile. Mitchell Butel and Zahra Newman, The Government Inspector 2014, Belvoir. Photo © Lisa Tomasetti. 6 7 This is a policy framework for contemporary New South Wales. It draws on the strengths and ambitions of our residents, artists and cultural workers across the diverse communities of Metropolitan Sydney, Western Sydney and Regional NSW. This whole-of-government policy framework complements and reinforces the NSW Government’s Visitor Economy Action Plan and Creative Industries Action Plan. It also supports our regional and urban development strategies, which recognise how arts and culture are intrinsic to transforming NSW into a global creative leader. The NSW Government invests over $300 million every year in direct support of arts and culture throughout the State. Our focus is on a clear direction for the future. Our ambitions — excellence, access and strength — will guide our actions and investment over the coming years. The policy framework commits to a suite of immediate actions towards these ambitions — but this is just the start. We will introduce new actions over time, building on our foundations. Effective investment is a cornerstone of our approach. We will undertake a rigorous process of research and business case development for prioritising investment decisions into the future. mmary Executiveu Casula Powerhouse installation by Mehwish Iqbal, S The Silence of the Sea 2012, paper and fishing line. 8 Section 01 9 Excellence Access Strength Our ambition for excellence will be Our ambition for access will be achieved Our ambition for strength will be achieved through a focus on: through a focus on: achieved through a focus on: Innovation International connections Participation Professional development We will support and encourage our artists, organisations NSW stories will be told around the world. Arts and Arts and culture are embraced by many people We want NSW to remain a location of choice for the and State Cultural Institutions to take risks and extend culture, already embedded in the identity of our State, in NSW — as creators, workers, volunteers and mobile creative workforce. We will enable artists and the boundaries of their artforms and practices. Wider use will become essential to our thriving visitor economy. audience members. We will increase opportunities creative practitioners to have new opportunities to grow of digital platforms will deepen the opportunity for access International exhibitions, partnerships and exchanges for people to take part in and shape arts and culture. their practice, connect with their peers and build and artistic collaboration for people across NSW. New will grow, supporting and extending Sydney’s reputation We will enable new arts experiences outside of the sustainable careers. pathways and opportunities will draw upon NSW’s great as a global city, and progressing artists’ careers traditional spaces of galleries and theatres, as well strength — our cultural and linguistic diversity. internationally. as new ways of engaging to enhance enjoyment Business sustainability and learning opportunities. More than ever, our State We will support and encourage the State Cultural Leadership Revitalising infrastructure Cultural Institutions will make NSW’s extraordinary Institutions and arts and cultural organisations to be We will champion leadership across the arts and Cultural infrastructure enables the people of NSW to treasures accessible to the wider community through entrepreneurial, exploring new markets, alternative cultural network. We have ambitious plans for our access the arts, contributes to urban renewal, and builds touring, educational outreach and partnerships. investment models and deeper relationships with the State Cultural Institutions — extending their reputation the State’s national and international reputation, supporting business sector. Streamlining and simplifying funding, and impact, and exploring deeper and closer robust local and visitor economies. Arts and cultural Arts for young people and reforming regulatory and statutory requirements, connections with the communities of NSW. facilities and precincts are essential platforms for creation We value the powerful and positive impact that arts and will enable arts organisations and institutions to prosper. and presentation for artists and cultural workers. We will cultural participation can have on young people. We We will also explore opportunities for enterprise Aboriginal arts and culture scope opportunities to renew our cultural infrastructure and will work to broaden creative learning, and arts and partnerships and social impact investing. Aboriginal arts and culture in NSW is vibrant, distinctive ensure we have sound business cases for development, cultural career opportunities. We will develop a deeper and contemporary. We will extend opportunities to prioritising opportunities with the largest impact to deliver dialogue with young people about reshaping our Networks and partnerships support the professional development of Aboriginal our vision for the people of NSW. Our plans to transform cultural life, empowering them to contribute to our plans We will enable collaborations, interdisciplinary works artists and cultural workers. We will also support our flagship cultural infrastructure, enhance arts precincts and priorities. and partnerships