A ministerial visit to Orange’s gallery, museum and library may pay dividends when Orange City Council next applies for grant funding.
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NSW arts minister Don Harwin toured Orange’s cultural precinct on Monday.
Mr Harwin is visiting regional areas to gain an understanding of regional arts to help determine where a war-chest of $600 million can have the most impact.
Council’s gallery and museum director Brad Hammond said the tour and meeting with the minister was promising.
“It means they have a definite understanding of what works for us at the gallery, library and museum,” Mr Hammond said.
He said plans for the gallery’s proposed expansion were discussed.
“When you’re talking about funding, the people in the ministry can understand the context, they can see it’s a living space that is used by the community,” Mr Hammond said.
Arts Out West executive director Tracey Callinan said Mr Harwin’s visit was a positive.
“There’s enormous opportunities to build on cultural tourism with history and performing arts,” Ms Callinan said.
“Having a minister in a precinct which is a such a good example of that is a great benefit.”
Mr Harwin said as a result of the state government’s frugality there was up to $600 million available to support the arts in the state.
“I’m keen to see good working models and hear ideas from country and regional communities about how we can structure state government assistance for re-investing in cultural infrastructure because it is very important that regional NSW gets its fair share.”
The $600 million is from the state’s leasing of its Sydney electricity generation assets to the private sector.
“I chose Orange because I’d heard so many good things about Orange council has done in terms of the complex we’ve just seen. It is an incredibly impressive complex.”
Mr Harwin cautioned any investment would be for multi-use spaces.
“The key is to have flexible spaces. You want to be coming up with an offering that engages people and encourages them to visit more than just once,” he said.
“The most successful museums have good facilities for education, good spaces for temporary exhibitions and good spaces for performances and events.”
Declan Rurenga
Declan Rurenga was the editor of Griffith's Area News and Leeton's Irrigator until September 2023. Before landing at the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area, he reported news in Junee, Wagga Wagga, Orange and Cootamundra.
Declan Rurenga was the editor of Griffith's Area News and Leeton's Irrigator until September 2023. Before landing at the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area, he reported news in Junee, Wagga Wagga, Orange and Cootamundra.
