Meet Portia, Create NSW's Regional Arts Funding and Development Manager, whose role is dedicated to supporting regional artists and arts organisations.
How has your passion for the arts in the regions developed?
I've always had a big nerdy love for reading and stories, and growing up in a regional NSW farming community, opportunities to participate in the literary arts were pretty much limited to the local library (big shout-out to regional libraries!).
A meandering road to connecting my passion with a profession led me to working with readers and writers in Sydney for several years, and I was keen to bring that enthusiasm and experience back to a regional space.
I've been back in the Central West for almost ten years now and simply wouldn't trade the cross-artform and community connection that I've found here - the capacity to engage with various artforms and broaden my own creative engagement is one that I would not have accessed in a metro setting.
I've worked in theatre, touring, festivals, ceramics, youth and community arts and visual arts, as well as my first love literature, and consider myself very lucky to have experienced so much artform diversity, thanks to living regionally.
Congratulations on your appointment as Regional Arts Funding and Development Manager. What is the focus of this important role?
The focus for my role is to facilitate development of the regional arts ecosystem through partnership and funding opportunities.
The statewide network of Regional Arts Development Organisations is one of the priorities in this role, as is ensuring that artists and arts organisations are supported through the Arts and Cultural Funding Program.
The data tells us that regional NSW is well supported through funding, but we know that more can be done to improve access.
"The strength of arts and culture in regional NSW is constantly on display, through the calibre of work being produced regionally."
What exciting programs will you be involved with?
The recently announced reform of the Arts and Cultural Funding Program, which stems from extensive consultation for the NSW Government's Creative Communities policy, means that we are connecting with the sector and responding to the feedback and themes communicated to us during this consultation. Information sessions have so far been held in cultural spaces from Bathurst to Bellingen, with more to be announced across Western Sydney and regional NSW in the coming months. (See Information Sessions dates and venues)
The Regional NSW strategy flagged in that policy will also enable further engagement and consultation with the sector, and I'm excited to be a part of the larger process that supports arts and culture in regional NSW, and supports a thriving and diverse arts and cultural ecology led by the Regional Arts Development Organisation (RADO) Network, Museums and Galleries NSW, local government, and many other stakeholders.
I'm also involved with the new Regional Arts Touring funding program, which will bring a range of programs and productions to communities right across the state. The new approach will give individuals and organisations the opportunity to present both small and large tours over a longer timeframe. We look forward to talking with creatives and cultural producers from across NSW about their touring ideas.
What do you think is the biggest strength of NSW's regional arts community?
The strength of arts and culture in regional NSW is constantly on display, through the calibre of work being produced regionally. Recently, I attended the opening of Cementa Friendship exhibition at the fantastic Mudgee Arts Precinct (it's on until 27 October and I highly recommend a visit). It is a celebration of ten years of Cementa ahead of the 2024 festival in September.
Aside from top-notch programming on display from organisations like Headland Writers' Festival, Bryon Writers' Festival and Cementa, what I find to be a huge strength in the regional arts community is the sense of community itself; the warmth and creativity that I feel in my town is one that I know is on display in communities across NSW through the work of dedicated volunteers, local governments and groups, and many an artist quietly working away on their next idea.
