What is Rally?

RALLY is a collaborative initiative by Regional Arts NSW (RANSW) and Alex Wisser (co-founder of Cementa Festival), designed to fuel Rural Arts-Led Regeneration by championing creativity, collaboration, and community leadership.

The arts play a crucial role in enlivening communities. This is especially true in rural towns, where artists are embedded into the fabric of the place they live so deeply. RALLY aims to support and nurture this work, helping artists and arts-organisations to regenerate their communities through their practice.

RALLY will include the following programs:

Rural Centres: Direct, in-person workshops will be delivered to five selected towns (Broken Hill, Deniliquin, Ganmain, Harden-Murrumburrah, and Manilla), providing targeted support for their regeneration initiatives.
Rural Innovators: Artists across the state are invited to participate in this program, giving them access to professional development and connection with peers who are leading regeneration efforts in rural communities.
Rural Design Club: Regional graphic designer Rach Viski and architecture consultant Tony McBurney will offer expertise in digital and urban design, showing how creative design can drive rural regeneration.

RALLY will culminate in a two-day state-wide development workshop in Kandos, NSW for all partners and participants, featuring workshops, panel discussions, and opportunities for collaborative planning.

By supporting five rural locations and connecting them with a state-wide network, RALLY seeks to spark innovation and resilience through art and design. Our goal is to nurture sustainable development and vibrant communities across regional NSW.

The Rural Centres

BROKEN HILL

Broken Hill is a historic mining city in far western New South Wales, Australia, known as “The Silver City” for its rich deposits of silver, lead, and zinc ores. Founded in the 1880s and home to the origins of BHP, it holds national heritage status and remains Australia’s longest-running mining town. For RALLY, we are partnering with Slag Heap Projects, an artist-run initaive that provides the creative community with professional development, vital curatorial support, sustainable financial models and cross-community dialogue.

Located on the lands of the Wilyakali people.

Population: 17,5oo

RADO: West Darling Arts

DENILIQUIN

Deniliquin is a rural service town in the Riverina region of southern New South Wales, Australia, celebrated for its rich agricultural heritage, especially rice, wool, and livestock production. Established on the banks of the Edward River in the 1840s, Deniliquin grew as a river port and regional trading hub, known for its strong connections to the surrounding farmlands. For RALLY, we are partnering with South West Arts, who provide support to local creatives and local artist Ginny Reid.

Located on the lands of the Wamba Wamba and Perrepa Perrepa people.

Population: 7,400

RADO: South West Arts

GANMAIN

Ganmain is located in the Riverina region of New South Wales, Australia. Established in the late 1800s, Ganmain has long served as a hub for the surrounding farmlands and is situated in one of the richest agricultural and pastoral districts in the Riverina. Today it is celebrated for its close-knit community and enduring country traditions. For RALLY, we are partnering with Lush Creative Galleries, which offers gallery space and workshops to local residents and is founded by artist Linda Nolan.

Located on the lands of the Wiradjuri people.

Population: 790

RADO: Eastern Riverina Arts

HARDEN-MURRUMBURRAH

Harden-Murrumburrah are twin, historic rural service towns in the South West Slopes region of New South Wales, Australia, known for their rich agricultural tradition and role as a railway and service centre. Established in the 19th century Harden-Murrumburrah became a central hub due to their location on the Main Southern railway line and its proximity to the Burley Griffin Way. The area is currently facing challenges due to population decline and lack of cultural infrastructure. For RALLY, we are partnering with Third Place Studio, founded by Eliza Wells with a mission to create a place for creativity and community to come together to support change.

Located on the lands of the Wiradjuri people.

Population: 2,000

RADO: Southern Tablelands Arts

MANILLA

Manilla is a rural town in the New England region of New South Wales, Australia, known for its scenic landscapes and strong agricultural roots, particularly in beef cattle and cropping. Established in the mid-19th century along the Namoi River, Manilla serves as a key service centre for the surrounding farming communities and is popular for outdoor recreational activities such as fishing and watersports. For RALLY, we are partnering with Tamworth Regional Gallery to promote regeneration in the town.

Located on the lands of the Kamilaroi people.

Population: 1,600

RADO: Arts North West

GET INVOLVED

Rural Innovators

RALLY Rural Innovators is a free program that aims to support rural communities with professional development and resources to help them start or develop existing arts-led regeneration projects. Regional artists and arts organisations are invited to apply now.

The program is free of charge and participants gain access to:

Six online workshop and connection sessions, with input from industry professionals and dedicated time to network and discuss ideas with other participants.
An online portal to connect with the Rural Innovators network and access the regeneration resource library.
Invitation to attend the RALLY Regeneration Forum in Kandos, April 2026.
Opportunity to apply for a bursary to attend the RALLY Regeneration Forum in Kandos, April 2026.

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Key Dates

EVENT	LOCATION	DATE
Online session 1: What is Rural Arts-led Regeneration?	Online	18 August 2025
Development Workshop	Broken Hill	12 September 2025
Online session 2: Cultural tourism & rural regeneration	Online	8 October 2025
Development Workshop	Deniliquin	14 November 2025
Development Workshops	Harden & Ganmain	November 2025
Online session 3: Making a movement with community	Online	2 December 2025
Online session 4: Finding your strategic stakeholders	Online	24 February 2026
Development Workshop	Manilla	February 2026
Online session 5: Design elements in regeneration	Online	26 March 2026
RALLY Regeneration Forum	Kandos	23-24 April 2026
Online session 6: The big picture: international regeneration and maintaining momentum	Online	June 2026

Learn more about the Online Sessions here and the RALLY Regeneration Forum here.

Our Partners

Alex Wisser, Cementa Festival

Alex Wisser is a contemporary artist, curator, and co-founder of Cementa Festival, a biennial arts festival based in Kandos, New South Wales. Cementa Festival is dedicated to showcasing innovative, site-specific contemporary art in rural Australia and fostering creative exchange between regional and metropolitan artists. Under Alex’s leadership, Cementa has become a vital platform for collaboration, dialogue, and community engagement in the Central West region, bringing together diverse artistic practices and strengthening the cultural life of rural communities.

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Australian Rural Leadership Foundation

The Australian Rural Leadership Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to fostering courageous and authentic leadership in rural, regional and remote communities across Australia. Over the past 30 years, it has delivered more than 150 leadership programs designed to build capacity and resilience in regional Australia.

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Crimson Rosella

Crimson Rosella is a social and creative enterprise that serves as a hub for contemporary regional Australian storytelling and artistic collaboration. Based in the Bega Valley and led by co-directors Andrew Gray and Lindy Hume AM, the enterprise brings together three complementary streams of activity: creating, producing and collaborating on regional arts projects.

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Tony McBurney

Tony McBurney is an architect based in New South Wales who brings over four decades of experience to his independent design practice. Tony specialises in housing, urban planning, and regional development.

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Rach Viski

Rach Viski is a designer and visual storyteller practising in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales. Her independent practice focuses on design-led community engagement, working closely with regional communities to bring local identities and environments to life. Through co-design, creative consultation and the development of visual narratives, she supports clients in shaping spaces and stories that reflect local character and relationships.

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Slag Heap Projects

Slag Heap Projects is an independent arts organisation based in Broken Hill, dedicated to fostering experimental and cross-disciplinary creative work. With a strong focus on place and collaboration, the organisation supports artists to explore new forms of regional expression and dialogue.

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South West Arts

South West Arts is a Regional Arts Development Organisation (RADO) supporting artists, communities and cultural initiatives across southwestern New South Wales. It plays a key role in delivering programs, opportunities and advocacy to strengthen the creative landscape of the region.

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Lush Creative Galleries

Lush Creative Galleries is a regional art space in Ganmain, NSW that showcases local and emerging artists while providing a platform for community-based creative engagement. The gallery was founded by artist Linda Nolan and hosts exhibitions, workshops and events that contribute to the cultural vibrancy of the local area.

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Third Place Studio

Third Place Studio is a shared creative workspace and collaborative hub in Harden, NSW designed to support artists, makers and entrepreneurs in regional Australia. The studio was founded by Eliza Wells and provides flexible co-working environments and facilitates community-led projects aimed at fostering innovation and connection.

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Tamworth Regional Gallery

Tamworth Regional Gallery is a public art institution and one of the oldest regional galleries in New South Wales. It presents a dynamic program of exhibitions and educational activities, with a focus on both contemporary and historical works that reflect the cultural life of the New England region.

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Arts North West

Arts North West is a Regional Arts Development Organisation (RADO) serving communities across northern New South Wales. It works to support artists, implement arts programs, and advocate for the cultural and creative sectors throughout the region.

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RALLY was produced by Regional Arts NSW and Alex Wisser (co-founder of Cementa Festival, Kandos).

RALLY is supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW (Cultural Access – Priority Area Projects for Individuals and Organisations, 24/25 grant round).

RALLY is also supported by the Regional Arts Fund: Strategic Project Grants, an Australian Government program that supports sustainable cultural development in regional and remote communities in Australia. The Regional Arts Fund is managed by Regional Arts Australia on behalf of the Australian Government.