In 2024, Arts Mid North Coast engaged arts researchers Patternmakers to undertake comprehensive research aimed at understanding the pulse of our vibrant arts community.

Our sector mapping project aimed to identify the pressing issues, unmet needs, and existing gaps within our creative sector, serving as a guiding compass to shape Arts Mid North Coast’s future strategic plans, projects, and programs.

Our goal was to build a picture of arts and creativity in our region – and understand what artists need to achieve their goals.​

Patternmakers developed a survey which was administered to artists and creatives across the region as well as facilitated three networking events and a series of interviews and focus groups. The survey was completed by approximately 350 respondents providing us with some significant insights into the current state of our creative sector.

Some Key Findings:

• The Mid North Coast is changing, and the region is now home to over 3,000 cultural and creative sector workers.
• Since 2016, employment and business counts in these industries both grew over 20%. Within this set of industries, there is a vibrant population of artists, including long-time locals (60%) and newcomers (40%) from places like Sydney and Melbourne which are becoming unaffordable for artists.
• There is a sense that the region has ‘come a long way’ in recent years, with exciting developments like new facilities, increasing gallery sales in some places, and cultural venue redevelopments.
• However, right now, the arts is suffering in the context of what some are calling ‘eco-social collapse’. The pandemic and cost-of-living crisis have taken their toll, and some people and organisations are downsizing or moving out of the sector altogether.
• Arts Mid North Coast appears to be playing an important role of witnessing change and fostering a sense of connection across the region. Artists and stakeholders value AMNC and want it to be even more visible and active in future.
• Artists have always survived on lower-than-average incomes, but recent national research suggests this picture is worsening and the precarity of artists situations came through strongly in the consultation.
• The survey found that local artists are mainly relying on sales (73%) and services (59%) for their creative incomes, with only a minority relying on government grants (19%), income from trusts/foundations (6%) and sponsorships (6%).
• Understanding this mix will be important to consider in supporting the sector during the prevailing economic conditions. Different strategies are required for different business models.
• Artists are hungry for professional development to learn new skills, connect with like-minded professionals and share their knowledge. They appear particularly interested in marketing, partnerships and development.
• There is ambition in the sector not just to survive these tough times – but continuing growing a flourishing creative community in the region.