Image: Art Trail Live Project, Barraba. Photo by Michèle Jedlicka
WHAT WE DO
Arts North West was established in 1996 as a Regional Arts Development Program, and later established as an independent Regional Arts Board in 1997.
Our Vision is for a rich, diverse cultural landscape.
Our Mission is to expand creative opportunities in our region.
Arts North West facilitates the development of arts and cultural projects and initiatives across the whole region, building a rich cultural landscape in the New England North West and increasing participation in arts and cultural activities. We build cultural community capacity through advice and advocacy, professional development provision and forging key partnerships and networks throughout the region. Our core business is providing quality advice, information and professional support to artists and organisations. Arts North West is committed to the development and delivery of services that foster opportunities for development, collaboration, facilitation and experiences in the arts, that support and respond to our diverse creative and cultural ecology.
Arts North West is a lead organisation of arts and cultural development across the New England North West. In 2021, Arts North West celebrated 25 years of service delivery. ANW was established in 1996 as a Regional Arts Development Program and became an independent Regional Arts Board for the New England North West in 1997. For over 25 years, ANW has been true to its core purpose of regional arts development while also being responsive and agile through the myriad of changes and hardships faced both globally and locally. ANW is proud of our strong community engagement and has established a robust reputation locally, as the peak advisory body for arts in the region.
The arts have the power to connect people beyond geographic, social and cultural borders and play a pivotal role in education, health, wellbeing, identity and inclusion in regional areas. Creating partnerships is central to our service provision. We work with other organisations both in and outside the sector, leveraging strategic partnerships to strengthen our creative landscape, and diversifying income for our regional economies. The arts is intrinsic to an engaged, responsive, and resilient society.
ARTS NORTH WEST REGION
Arts North West acknowledges Aboriginal people as the traditional custodians of the lands we work on; we recognise the strength, resilience and capacity of Aboriginal people and respect the Aboriginal Elders past and present.
Arts North West recognises the support of Create NSW and the following local government bodies in the New England North West:
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
Arts North West is committed to practising environmental sustainability as a continuous process whereby we strive to preserve our environment for the generations that follow. Arts North West initiatives help protect our environment, maintain an ecological balance and conserve natural resources in our regional area, where possible.
REGIONAL ARTS NETWORK
Each RADO works with other organisations in their region, and the other RADO in the state, to provide strategic direction for sustainable arts and cultural development in their region. Boards include representatives from local government, tourism, education, community arts organisations, community members and artists.
Each RADO employs an Executive Director and usually other staff who work to coordinate a cultural development program across the contributing local government areas in their region
Regional arts nsw
Regional Arts NSW is the peak body and support agency for arts and cultural development in regional NSW.
Arts North West is one of 15 Regional Arts Development Organisations (RADO) in NSW.
