The Wollongong local government area has missed out on a share in the $100 million arts fund announced in the state budget but the government says there is still plenty of other ways to boost the coffers of arts and cultural programs.
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Shellharbour and Kiama local government areas will be able to access the $100 million Regional Cultural Fund, announced at Shoalhaven City Arts Centre on Saturday.
From July 17, arts and cultural organisations can apply for grants to help with equipment, operations, projects to revitalise communities and economies and larger scale projects like cultural infrastructure.
Arts Minister Don Harwin made no apologies for not allowing Wollongong access.
During NSW Parliament question time on Tuesday, he said the fund specifically targeted to meet the needs of “regional communities”.
“Wollongong LGAs are not excluded on the basis of worthiness more so that the regionally targeted nature of the fund precludes them,” his spokesman said.
His spokesman told the Mercury that Wollongong organisations could apply for a number of grants under the existing Arts and Cultural Development Program which receives $52.7 million annually.
Even small companies who only needed as much as $200 for touring were eligible to apply, he said.
Organisations in Kiama and Shellharbour could also apply for the Arts and Cultural Development Program.
However opposition spokesman for the Illawarra and Keira MP Ryan Park said the decision was “unfair”.
Mr Park, along with two other Labor MPs – Shellharbour’s Anna Watson and Wollongong’s Paul Scully – said overall they expected more funds to flow into the region from a budget that recorded a $4.5 billion surplus.
Winners from the 2017 NSW budget include Illawarra schools, Minnamurra Rainforest Centre in the Budderoo National Park at Jamberoo, WIN Stadium and Illawarra roads.