News

Culture central to regional revitalisation says Director-General of NSW Cabinet

9 July 2004

"A cultural development strategy should run parallel with other economic development strategies for a given country area and is central to increasing the liveability and vibrancy of the region," said the Director-General of The Cabinet Office and NSW Ministry for the Arts, Mr Roger Wilkins in a speech at the inaugural Regional Arts NSW Association Annual Congress dinner on 30 April this year.

"Government needs to holistically assess the role of culture in country NSW," said Mr Wilkins.

"Culture may have a more wide-ranging and integrated role in regional development through fostering of community identity, creativity, cohesion and vitality through the cultural characteristics that define a regional centre and its inhabitants."

"Culture may also have even wider economic implications for regional revitalisation through diversification of the local economic base. There may be broader economic enhancements like greater social cohesion, civic pride, lower crime rates and increased economic dynamism. These factors will improve the profile or image of the region for capital investment and the establishment of new businesses." [Full text of Mr Wilkins' speech available below]

Mr Wilkins' words came as Regional Arts NSW celebrated its new 'Professional Association' model for the network of Regional Arts Boards (RABs), Regional Arts Development Officers (RADOs) and Regional Arts NSW (the Sydney secretariat and peak body) which work together to foster the capacity of regional communities for sustainable, self-determined cultural development in New South Wales.

Regional Arts NSW Association Directors and staff met to adopt a new policies as well as a 2004-2007 Strategic Plan which will guide the Association's activities for the next three years. Priorities include:

	Building the capacity of RABs
	Raising the profile of Regional Arts NSW and its activities at State and National level
	Promoting regional arts and cultural events and activities
	Advocacy work to increase the resources, knowledge and influence of the Regional Arts NSW network
	Producing communications that enhance internal and external relationships, share Regional Arts NSW's vision and knowledge and
	Supporting RABs and RADOs to achieve the Regional Arts NSW mission.

The State Government is the principal supporter of the work of Regional Arts NSW and provides around 50% of the budget for the thirteen Regional Arts Development Programs in NSW. The other 50% is contributed by each region's local government councils and shires.

Mr Wilkins congratulated Regional Arts NSW and said that he has been particularly impressed with the capacity of the Regional Arts Boards and RADOs to collaborate with community and cultural groups and to link them to local government. The Regional Arts NSW network could have a significant role to play in the introduction of the Cultural Planning Guidelines for Local Government, he added.

Collaboration with individuals, community organisations, government and other agencies at local, regional, State and Federal levels is the centrepiece of Regional Arts NSW's mission to foster sustainable cultural development in regional and rural New South Wales.

Download Mr Wilkins' speech
Click the icons below to download the full text of Roger Wilkins' speech. (To SAVE the speech to your C drive, right-click the icon and select 'Save Target As ...'):

Download Mr Wilkins' speech in PDF (130K)
Download Mr Wilkins' speech in Word (40K)

Cultural Planning Guidelines for Local Government
The Cultural Planning Guidelines for Local Government were released by the NSW Ministry for the Arts and the Department of Local Government last week and are available for download from the NSW Ministry for the Arts website at www.arts.nsw.gov.au. Printed copies will be available from 19 July.

Roger Wilkins will be chairing a panel at a forum organised by Regional Arts NSW on the impacts of arts activities in Australia on 29 July. To find out more click here.