On Tuesday night (November 10), Mid North Coast Arts Director Olivia Parker joined our regional arts friends and colleagues to celebrate 80 years of Regional Arts NSW (RANSW).
This historic milestone was recognised with a celebration at NSW Parliament House, including a moving opening speech by the Hon. Ben Franklin MLC on the importance of arts and culture in the regions. The celebration is accompanied by an exhibition of 40 regional artists from across NSW, on display in Fountain Court from November 4–26.
From the RANSW website:
For the last 80 years, Regional Arts NSW (RANSW) has been supporting, advocating for and leading the arts and cultural sector in regional New South Wales. Art in the Bush: 80 Years of Regional Arts NSW is a celebration of this legacy and the artists that have been central to this mission since the beginning.
RANSW was founded in 1946. The organisation now works in partnership with a network of 15 Regional Arts Development Organisations (RADOs) and the Aboriginal Regional Arts Alliance (ARAA) to support creative work in regional NSW. This collaboration helps foster local participation in the arts and stimulate cultural activity in every region of the state.
Regional artists are leaders in the Australian arts and cultural sector, helping us to build a distinct national identity that embraces our country’s cultural heritage, landscape and contemporary life. First Nations artists are at the forefront of shaping this identity, alongside a diverse range of other non-metropolitan voices.
Thank you to the RANSW team: Tracey, Pru, Bea and Francesca, for a fantastic event and congratulations!
You can support Regional Arts NSW here.