Arts NSW
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| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 13 May 1971 (Ministry of Cultural Activities) 3 March 2006 (Arts NSW) |
| Preceding agencies |
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| Jurisdiction | New South Wales |
| Headquarters | 323 Castlereagh Street, Sydney |
| Minister responsible | |
| Agency executive |
|
| Parent Agency | Department of Justice |
| Child agencies | |
| Website | http://www.arts.nsw.gov.au/ |
Arts NSW (ANSW) is an agency of the Government of New South Wales responsible for administering the government's policies that support the arts, artists and the various cultural bodies within the state of New South Wales in Australia. Arts NSW is led by its Executive Director, Mary Darwell, who reports to the Secretary of the Department of Justice, Andrew Cappie-Wood. The agency advises the Minister for the Arts, presently the Hon. Don Harwin MLC, who is ultimately responsible to the Parliament of New South Wales.
The role of an 'arts' minister, overseeing the management and support for all cultural activities in New South Wales, before the early 1970s was an unheard of concept in politics. However, by the early 1970s, various governments in Australia recognised the need for a steering authority for state support for the arts. In response, premier Bob Askin appointed George Freudenstein as the first Minister for Cultural Activities on 11 March 1971. On his appointment Freudenstein requested the establishment of an organisation to enable him to carry out his responsibilities and the Premier agreed. On 13 May 1971 the Ministry of Cultural Activities was established, taking over responsibility for various legislation and bodies that had previously been under the purview of the Department of Education, including the Archives Office of New South Wales, Art Gallery of New South Wales, State Library of New South Wales, Australian Museum, Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences, Sydney Observatory, the Advisory Committee on Cultural Grants, NSW Film Council, and the Sydney Opera House Trust. In the case of the opera house, the Ministry had responsibility for its completion and final official opening on 20 October 1973.
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