An artist has launched an online appeal for funding to keep a major design centre operating, saying she is shocked to learn it has lost its government support.
Helen Britton recorded an online video from her studio in Munich to ask for donations to help keep the Australian Design Centre in Sydney running.
"These are very difficult times for artists, we need platforms like the Australian Design Centre to be able to present our work to the world," she said.
The centre supports more than 1000 artists each year and has a local schedule of 18 exhibitions annually, as well as an international touring program that recently featured 22 contemporary jewellery makers exhibiting at Munich Jewellery Week.
The centre is already operating with reduced staff and relies on about $500,000 in combined state and federal operational funding, but its applications at both levels of government have been knocked back.
"It has been a stressful time and it is really difficult for us without that funding to continue to operate as we currently are, or even potentially operate at all," Australian Design Centre chief executive Lisa Cahill said.
The design centre is one of many galleries and arts organisations in NSW to miss out on four-year funding from the state government.
An estimated 14 regional galleries, including in Orange, Bathurst, Broken Hill, Goulburn, Tamworth, Tweed and Wagga Wagga also failed to secure program funding from Create NSW.
That's according to Regional Arts NSW chief executive Tracey Callinan, who said some institutions were scrambling to work out how to keep their doors open.
In a letter to NSW Arts Minister John Graham, she outlined a scenario in which almost 600 arts projects would have to be cancelled or significantly cut, and 5000 artists and arts workers were no longer engaged due to a lack of funding.
"The loss of multi-year funding (which has been in place for our organisation for decades) may mean the organisation closes down completely," said one institution quoted anonymously in the letter.
The decisions "show a profound lack of understanding and appreciation of the real challenges faced by regional communities", another said.
Applications from regional galleries had been recommended for funding by assessors, but there was simply not enough money to give them, Dr Callinan said.
Create NSW said it would spend almost $1.4 billion on arts and culture in 2025.
A fuller picture of the state's funding for regional galleries would be available following two-year funding assessments, with decisions expected in September, according to a spokesperson.
The recent four-year funding round provided more money than previous years and received 158 eligible applications, with regional galleries representing one-third of the successful visual-arts applicants, they said.
The agency is being restructured to focus on growing audiences and supporting people who work in the sector after a period of significant infrastructure spending.
"Our focus now is on filling those great buildings - that is why our investment priorities focus on people - the artists and audiences - to make the most of the great infrastructure," Mr Graham said.
