With two Bega Valley arts institutions missing out on multi-million dollar grants, Labor is criticising the NSW government for having the wrong priorities.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Applying to the Regional Cultural Fund last year, the Bega Valley Regional Gallery requested $3.4million for redevelopment works, while the Old Bega Hospital asked for $2.4million to begin its restoration. It was a fund that aimed to support the development of cultural infrastructure in regional NSW.
In December, both organisations were told they had been unsuccessful in their applications.
Speaking this week, Country Labor candidate for Bega Leanne Atkinson said her party was “very sad about the state government’s approach to the arts”.
“[NSW Arts Minister Don Harwin] is spending almost $760million on his favourite arts institutions – the Art Gallery of NSW, the Sydney Opera House, Walsh Bay, the Australian Museum and the Hyde Parks Barracks – all within a three kilometre radius of Sydney’s CBD,” she said.
“But he cannot find $3.4million for the Bega Valley Regional Gallery. That is simply disgraceful.
“But to add insult to injury, he is also wasting $1.5billion forcing the Powerhouse Museum to move to Parramatta against the community’s wishes. That is almost $2.26billion going into Sydney arts, but nothing into the Bega Valley.”
Ms Atkinson said the Bega Valley Regional Gallery and Old Bega Hospital were two very deserving organisations and she was “quite stunned” they missed out on grants.
“In the case of the Old Bega Hospital, it is the second time they have been let down by this government,” she said.
“NSW Labor will be announcing its arts policy in the coming weeks and I have been advocating for additional resources for our community.
“I have already been on to the Shadow Arts Minister Walt Secord, who has visited the Bega Valley Regional Gallery, and told him directly how important the gallery is to the heart of the community.
“This is also the latest example of how the Bega community misses out on key arts projects under local MP Andrew Constance.”
Member for Bega Andrew Constance was contacted for comment, but did not reply by the time of publication.
RELATED CONTENT: Art ‘tremendously valued’ by communities says Don Harwin