Multimillion-dollar funding promises to bridge creative divide in Sydney

ABC NEWS (Australia)

The state government has pledged to bridge Sydney’s arts divide, promising to repair underfunding for creatives in the city's west. A new multimillion-dollar strategy is aiming to provide Western Sydney artists with the same opportunities as those closer to the CBD.

Transcript

00:00Proud Gamilaroi woman Alina Roberts-Turner has always dreamed of being a performer.

00:07Having grown up in Western Sydney, the 21-year-old felt she was always playing second fiddle compared to those living in the city.

00:20You don't hear about as many things in Western Sydney, especially, you know, out Penrith Way, Blue Mountains.

00:27It's very disjointed but a lot of the kids that have grown up in the city, you know, they have those extra opportunities.

00:35That lack of opportunities has struck a chord with the state government.

00:40The goal here is simple, to make sure that our arts and culture institutions represent the whole city

00:46and also make sure that the stories from Western Sydney reach bigger audiences, both around New South Wales but around the world.

00:53The Minns government has announced a three-year plan to back the arts in Western Sydney with an initial investment of $5 million.

01:01Just over $4 million will be split between developing strategic partnerships and helping to pay for a major arts festival in Western Sydney.

01:09Half a million will go to grants for the First Nations arts sector and $350,000 to support creatives in the region.

01:18With Parramatta's own powerhouse nearing completion, it's come at a good time.

01:23It's really our job to amplify the incredible practice, creative and artistic practice that's happening across the region.

01:31And so we're really excited that this strategy puts a frame around that.

01:36Adding to a growing arts scene west of the city is a new theatre at Leichhardt's Italian Forum.

01:42Rehearsals are now underway with a plan to bring the West End to the Inner West by the end of the year.

01:49Let's go.

01:50Build it up for the first one.

01:52For your sake of the first one.

01:53Build it up for in your house.

01:54I will be the first time to bring it up.

01:55Just pull it up.

01:56Love it.

01:57Make sure you can push the whole thing to bring the impact on the right.

01:58Because this is the ideal way of getting an enablement of the right.

01:59You're a small bit, but you're a small bit, too.

02:00A small bit and thinking of getting an enablement of your heart.

02:02Instead of trying to apply for the right in the right.

02:05You can do the same thing.

02:07You're a small bit.

02:09After all that, take it to a length of your heart.

02:12To hold it up.

02:13Let the small too much.

02:14I'm going to clean it up.

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