Create NSW Launches Heartland: a plan for regional NSW arts, culture and creative industries 2026–2035
18/02/2026
Yesterday, Create NSW launched Heartland: A Plan for Regional NSW Arts, Culture and Creative Industries, a dedicated strategy to support arts and culture and grow cultural tourism in regional NSW for the next 10 years.
Here’s what’s inside…
The Vision: A rich, diverse regional cultural landscape, supporting vibrant and skilled artistic communities through dynamic networks and partnerships thatshowcasethe uniqueness of regional cultural experiences and grow NSW regional creative industries. (Create NSW)
Heartland identifies six key priorities to boost creativity and vibrancy across regional NSW:
- Champion Regional First Nations Arts and Culture
- Strengthen Regional Partnerships and Networks
- Unlock Regional Creative Spaces
- Open Doors to Regional Creative Careers
- Showcase Regional Storytelling and Creative Innovation
- Amplify State-wide Arts and Cultural Tourism
Regional Arts NSW has been identified as a lead strategic sector partner in the strategy, with a particular focus on:
- Strengthen Regional Partnerships & Networks: working with Create NSW to ensure the Regional Arts Development Organisations (RADOs) remain sustainable
- Open Doors to Regional Creative Careers: Assisting in the delivery of TAFE-credentialed paid internship programs to strengthen technical and production skills in the regions
- Amplify State-wide Arts and Cultural Tourism: Hosting an Arts & Cultural Tourism Toolkit on the Regional Futures website
RANSW CEO Dr Tracey Callinan OAM states, “Regional Arts NSW looks forward to working with Create NSW and other strategic partners to embed this plan over the coming years and to see the ways in which arts and culture in the regions can grow with continued sustained support.”
You can read the full strategy here.
Cover Image: Warren Mason performing at Tin Camp Studio, Lightning Ridge place-based music venue, Outback Arts, 2024. Photo: Outback Outloud Rainy King
Image: RANSW CEO Dr Tracey Callinan, Jamie-Lea Trindall, Executive Director of Outback Arts, Lorrayne Fishenden, CEO of the Aboriginal Regional Arts Alliance and The Hon. John Graham, NSW Minister for the Arts. Photo by Oumi Karenga-Hewitt.