Conversations with the CEO: How we can shape state & federal policy to better support regional artists
30/04/2026
I’m writing this on the last day of April, enjoying the beautiful autumn weather, about to head home to Bathurst to rehearse and then conduct my choir in a concert at Hartley on the weekend. I’m wondering how the time can be flying by so quickly this year. Last week Regional Arts NSW, along with Cementa, enjoyed having over fifty people come together in Kandos to discuss the arts-led regeneration work that is happening in towns across regional NSW. RALLY is a project that both celebrates and supports this work, part of our broader plan to embed strategic approaches that grow the arts in ways that make our regional locations better places to live and to create. We loved interacting with so many people doing great work and thank you to all those that came along.
But while we talk about strategic approaches, my mind this week has also been on policy – both at state and national levels. Yesterday the NSW Government released the report of Portfolio Committee No. 6 – Transport and the Arts, entitled ‘Structure and funding of the arts, music, night-time economy, and transport portfolios’. I am proud to see Regional Arts NSW’s contribution highlighted frequently throughout the report alongside many other great contributions from people in the sector. I was also a little surprised and reassured to see that my comments made as a witness at the enquiry seemed reasonably coherent; it’s not easy to respond to questions by the panel in a sensible way, under pressure. I think the document stands as a persuasive expose of problems recently experienced in the arts sector. Despite the fact that the report concludes with a final appendix in which ALP members dissent from the report and its recommendations, I remain an optimist. I believe that there have already been some positive outcomes from the concerns raised in the report such as the commitment made in the new regional plan Heartland to “Establish the RADO sustainability fund to restore funding levels, ensuring the stability of the network and providing a safety net for RADOs going through the process of restructure and revitalisation.” (Heartland, p.19, 2026). And we have a record of evidence of current practice and problems that we can turn to when needed.
Meanwhile, the consultation for the new national policy is underway, to create an updated version that will supersede ‘Revive’ which was launched in January 2023. The five pillars of ‘Revive’ will remain and I understand that priority groups have been identified as First Nations, CALD, Young People, LGBTQI+ and d/Disabled people. Missing from that is people living in regional Australia, so it is important that we raise our voices. To do this an effective way, there are strategic ways of doing this. Regional Arts Australia (RAA) has put together a guide on how to include key words to ensure that regional and remote are key phrases that appear frequently and will be picked up in the analysis of submissions. A submission can be very short (up to 500 words) or a detailed attachment and we urge people to make a submission – the only way that contributions can be made. Please visit the RAA webpage that gives you strategic tips on amplifying regional voices here.
As a member of the Regional National Advisory Group with RAA I have been happy to contribute in the setting of our priorities: First Nations; Touring and finding new models that fit the regions; Capacity and Skills Developments in the regions; Market development including international exchanges and opportunities; Culture infrastructure that thinks beyond only built infrastructure. RAA is doing a workshop next week to explain these approaches further and we will be doing our own online workshop on Tuesday (4 May) that picks up on NSW iterations of these themes and strategies (learn more here).
Please consider both attending our workshop and putting in a submission so that our regional voices are heard.
Tracey Callinan, Regional Arts NSW CEO
HAVE YOUR SAY: RANSW wants your voice to be heard in the new National Cultural Policy
The Australian Government is developing a new National Cultural Policy to shape the future direction of the creative and cultural sector. They are currently seeking public submissions, which will be key in informing the new policy.
Join us online for a public consultation session to have your say and learn what you need to do to make your personal submission count.
📆 4 May
⏰ 10am-11am
📍 Online