Subscribe to the E-bulletin

Regional Arts Boards

 

Regional arts development in NSW is decentralised through a network of regional organisations known as the Regional Arts Boards (RABs). They are funded through a partnership where the local councils in each region, together with the State Government, contribute financially to each Board.

A RAB is a non-profit incorporated association and has a committee of management (by whatever name they are called) made up of volunteers who are elected/appointed to the position under the rules stated in the organisation’s Constitution. In NSW, incorporated associations come under the jurisdiction of the NSW Department of Fair Trading. There is information about the obligations of an incorporated association on their web site: http://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/Cooperatives_and_associations/Associations.html

RABs provide strategic direction for sustainable arts and cultural development in their regions. Each employs staff members who coordinate and implement a regional arts and cultural development program across the contributing local government areas in their region.

RABs are a partnership with the local governments in each region, and several are directly managed by local government representatives on stakeholder boards of directors.

All Regional Arts Boards are reliant on financial and, in some cases, ‘in kind’ contributions from local governments and shires. The development of this relationship between local governments and Regional Arts Boards was one of the desired outcomes of the restructure of the Arts Council of NSW. 

Regional Arts Boards balance broad regional arts and cultural development programs and projects, with specific initiatives to support sectors and communities within the region which are disadvantaged in terms of access to arts and culture.

RAB employees (RADOs and other arts development workers, who vary across the different RABs) consult with and report directly to Councils and Cultural Advisory Committees and other relevant Council Committees on their programs.

RAB employees also consult and work closely with local government staff (arts, cultural, events, tourism, community services and economic development officers) in all contributing councils (as well as their many non-government partners) to develop and implement its regional arts development program.

RABs provide regional services which are developed specifically to support local government in delivering and resourcing programs in and across different LGAs in the region (e.g. cultural planning and policy development workshops, public art training for local government staff).