NSW State Election: What’s in it for the arts?

With the election on Saturday, we summarise the major arts policies across education, technology, Indigenous culture and more.
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In the lead up to the NSW State Elections on Saturday 28 March, as parties are busy campaigning for votes we turn our attention to what’s in it for the arts.

Major promises to the arts sector have already been made by the current Baird Government if it were to be re-elected, including $600 million to transform Sydney’s “cultural ribbon” into the cultural hub of Asia.  

We inspect the campaign polices and elections to uncover the policy commitments for arts and culture across education, audience participation, technology, Indigenous culture, and arts and disability.

Arts education

Leader of the fledgling Arts Party P J Collins is running as an independent candidate in the NSW State election. A large focus of his polices is making arts education accessible across the state, including establishing Creative and Performing Arts High Schools across regional NSW, improving access to music education in every public school, and free access to state-funded galleries and museum for under 16s.

A Foley Labor Government will add a boost to education through a commitment to increase funding for public libraries by $23.3 million over three years. A $2 million hardship fund will be created for public libraries in communities which have populations under 20,000 and require additional assistance. In addition, a $50 million infrastructure fund will allow public libraries to upgrade their facilities or purchase new equipment.

Audience participation

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Madeleine Dore
About the Author
Madeleine Dore is a freelance writer and founder of Extraordinary Routines, an interview project exploring the intersection between creativity and imperfection. She is the previous Deputy Editor at ArtsHub. Follow her on Twitter at @RoutineCurator