When visiting Bega on Friday to celebrate the completion of infrastructure improvements at Spiral Gallery, Mr Harwin said Australians currently lived in a society that was largely post-industrial, where machines and technology were doing tasks without being powered or operated by humans. But he believed art was “tremendously” valued in Australia and its value increased as the years went by. 

“One thing that a machine can never replace is creativity, and I think creative skills are becoming more important for young people for them to have fulfilling and productive work in the future,” he said. 

The improvements at Bega’s Spiral Gallery were funded by the NSW government through a $18,000 grant from the Regional Cultural Fund, with Mr Harwin calling the gallery an “inspiring place to be”.  

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“I think an open access gallery is critical in providing a support network for local artists and is a focus for them and an opportunity to show their work which they otherwise might not get in a small community like a regional town,” Mr Harwin said. 

The grant money was used for a new exhibition display hanging system, purpose built storage and improvements to the office and kitchen.  

Spiral Gallery Cooperative chairperson Diana Stewart  said the completed work “immensely” improved what the gallery could offer. 

“The new hanging system is fantastic. We can put up shows in a quarter of the time,” she said. 

In order to increase the cultural value of towns, Mr Harwin encouraged local government to step forward with new project ideas. 

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“You look at towns like Bathurst, Dubbo and Port Macquarie that have really lively cultural life and a lot of it has to do with investment council makes,” he said. 

“Local government needs to plan their projects right now because NSW has a really strong economy. For regional cities and towns that have their act together and are putting up quality projects, they are getting funded.

“The most important thing council can do is come up with quality projects because right now we can afford to invest.”