To the artists, creatives, organisations and arts and cultural communities of the Central Darling Shire, we want to share an important update about the communities West Darling Arts is currently able to support.

This is a difficult announcement to make, particularly because West Darling Arts has worked alongside artists, cultural practitioners, organisations and communities across the Western Region for many years. We value those relationships deeply, and we know that our organisation has become an important source of support, advice, connection and opportunity for many people.

Regional Arts Development Organisations (RADOs) in NSW operate through a partnership model involving local government contributions, NSW Government core funding through Create NSW, and coordination through the broader regional arts network.

West Darling Arts has one of the largest geographical service areas of any RADO in NSW, but we also operate across that area with a relatively small number of local government partners.

Until recently, our local government partnerships have included Broken Hill City Council, Central Darling Shire Council and the unincorporated Western Region.

Unfortunately, Central Darling Shire Council has decided not to renew its Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with West Darling Arts. As a result, West Darling Arts is no longer funded through the RADO partnership model to provide direct services within the Central Darling Shire local government area.

From this new financial year, West Darling Arts will no longer be able to provide direct support, funding opportunities (including CASP Grants), auspicing services, workshops or other RADO services to artists, organisations and community groups based within the Central Darling Shire local government area.

We understand that this may come as disappointing or confusing news, particularly for artists and community members who have worked with West Darling Arts previously.

This is not a decision about the value of your work, your community or your contribution to the arts and culture of the Western Region.

The change is a consequence of the funding and partnership structure that underpins the work of Regional Arts Development Organisations. Without a current local government partnership, West Darling Arts does not have the resources or mandate to continue providing the full range of RADO services within that local government area.

We know that losing access to a regional arts organisation can have a real impact, particularly in communities where arts and cultural resources are already limited.

Where we can, we will help people understand what other avenues of arts and cultural support may be available to them. We will also continue to participate in the broader regional arts network and advocate for the importance of accessible arts development across Western NSW.

For artists and communities within Broken Hill City Council and the unincorporated Western Region, West Darling Arts' services and programs will continue within the scope of our current funding and partnership arrangements.

A sincere thank you to the artists, makers, performers, cultural workers, organisations, volunteers and community members across Central Darling Shire who have worked with West Darling Arts over the years.

Thank you for inviting us into your communities, trusting us with your ideas, applying for funding, attending workshops, sharing your work and helping us understand what arts and culture means in the far west.

We are incredibly proud of what we have achieved together.

While our ability to provide direct services in Central Darling Shire is changing, our respect for and belief in the artists and communities of Wilcannia, Menindee, Ivanhoe, White Cliffs, Tilpa, Sunset Strip, Copi Hollow and the wider Central Darling community has not changed.

We hope that, in time, the circumstances may allow for new opportunities and partnerships to develop.

For now, we wanted to be transparent with you about what has changed, why it has changed, and what it means for the support West Darling Arts can provide.

With appreciation, the West Darling Arts team