Artists, musicians, theatres, venues, festivals and cultural organisations in NSW will be supported with $86 million in funding from the NSW Government to reopen with confidence and welcome back audiences.

Treasurer Matt Kean said the stimulus would support individuals and businesses to bounce back quickly and reignite the economy through their cultural offerings.

“We have all been champing at the bit to see films in cinemas, our local bands on stage and our favourite musicals in theatres,” Mr Kean said.

“This funding commitment will allow the arts and cultural sector to relaunch with certainty and confidence to deliver works that audiences have missed over the past year.”

Minister for the Arts Don Harwin said the NSW Government’s commitment is testament to the importance of the arts through the recovery and reopening phase of the pandemic.

“The arts and cultural sectors were among the hardest hit by the pandemic, with many organisations unable to rehearse, plan or perform,” Mr Harwin said.

“The arts are key to our economic recovery and critical for our wellbeing – uplifting and inspiring us in our times of need. I am proud the NSW Government is continuing to support the sector to help it get back on its feet.

“Today’s funding commitment gives further certainty for the sector, and shows clearly that the NSW Government understands the significant value the arts brings to the economy and to the social fabric of our society.”

The $86 million in funding will be delivered by Create NSW through the following programs:

• $50 million for the Performing Arts Relaunch package – to assist thesector to relaunch by providing certainty and confidence for arts companies as audiences return to theatres and other performance venues.
• $25 million for the Festival Relaunch package – to stabilise established commercial and not-for-profit festivals, big and small, so they can program with confidence into 2022/23.
• $5 million Theatre and Film Strategy – for the development of a film studio and theatre infrastructure strategy that will help secure international productions and turn Sydney into the Broadway of the Southern Hemisphere.
• $5 million for Culture Up Late – to extend the successful evening program across some of Sydney’s vibrant Cultural Institutions, providing more opportunities for audiences to experience museums and galleries and helping to reignite the city after dark.
• $1 million for Film Festivals – to support the delivery of local and international Film Festivals across Sydney, Western Sydney and South Western Sydney in independent and commercial cinemas and outdoors where possible.
• In addition, the NSW Government has established an Event Saver Fund that will provide support in the event major festivals and events are impacted by COVID-19 cancellations or postponements in 2022.

The latest $86 million funding for the arts and cultural sector is in addition to the $75 million funding for the performing arts and live music announced earlier this year, and the $50 million Rescue and Restart funding package announced in 2020.

More information can be found at  www.create.nsw.gov.au