About cultural infrastructure - Create NSW

Create NSW is the NSW Government arts and cultural driver. 

Key functions

As part of our cultural infrastructure program we

• Plan for and develop new facilities. These are fit for purpose places where people can produce and experience arts, culture and creativity.
• Oversee more than $2.3 billion in cultural infrastructure projects.
• Invest in cultural facilities and public art where people live, work and play.
• Manage a portfolio of arts and heritage properties.

Our projects include Sydney Opera House Renewal, Sydney Modern (Art Gallery of NSW) development, Walsh Bay Arts Precinct redevelopment, and the Powerhouse Museum program. These, along with smaller projects, help to increase access and excellence in the arts. 

Properties we manage and lease include Walsh Bay Arts Precinct, Roslyn Packer Theatre and the Arts Exchange Building in The Rocks. We subsidise the cost of spaces to provide arts and creative organisations and businesses with affordable spaces. These support creative production and the development of new programs.

Infrastructure funding we provide to arts and cultural organisations:

• improves the quality of infrastructure 
• improves access to the arts across regional and metropolitan NSW
• provides important support for First Nations arts and culture.

We also support and develop public art in NSW. This ensures best practice delivery and creation of public art opportunities for artists. 

Key resources

Cultural Infrastructure Plan 2025+ provides the strategic framework for how the NSW Government will invest in and support cultural infrastructure across the state until 2025 and beyond.

Create NSW Infrastructure Support Policy guides the operation and management of the infrastructure support program. The policy sets out the framework for the allocation of spaces and guidelines for the ongoing operation of the Create NSW property portfolio.

NSW Public Art toolkit aims to help NSW Government agencies and local councils apply best practice principles to planning, commissioning, implementing and maintaining public art.

For more resources see Resource Hub

Life cycle of a cultural infrastructure project

Create NSW is involved at many different stages during the life cycle of a cultural infrastructure project. This includes:

More information

Browse our cultural infrastructure programs and projects

Access our cultural infrastructure resources

See what cultural infrastructure funding we provide

Find out more about Create NSW