After 13 years at the helm of Arts OutWest, Dr Tracey Callinan is set to farewell the Central West's main arts development body for a new role as chief executive officer for Regional Arts NSW.
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In her new role, Dr Callinan will oversee the 14 regional arts development organisations [RADO's] across regional NSW, providing strategic direction for sustainable arts and cultural development in each region.
With Arts OutWest as one of the RADO's, Dr Callinan said her new role is the natural step forward after spending the last 13 years helping fund, promote and advocate for the Central West's arts and cultural sector.
"We are a very diverse state when it comes to the arts and cultural sector, and I can't wait to take what I've learned as executive director of Arts OutWest and apply it further afield," she said.
"I recently completed a PhD on place-specific policy development in cultural and creative industries, with the core argument being that policies for metropolitan creative sectors won't necessarily work regionally; every region has a unique identity, which warrants a tailored policy approach for each."
Dr Callinan succeeds Elizabeth Rogers, who left Regional Arts NSW in October after 15 years.
Reflecting on her time with Arts OutWest, Dr Callinan said she's proud of the organisation's strengthened relationship with Central West councils and relevant arts and cultural organisations to strengthen arts practice in regional communities.
"Since 2009, we've vastly increased the amount of funding for the industry in the Central West, and our workforce has expanded to ensure a larger proportion of Arts OutWest's footprint can be catered for," she said.
"Whenever we garner funds, I've always preferred placing more into staff rather than programs, because I've always believed the right members of staff are essential to opening further funding pathways for arts communities across the Central West."
During Ms Callinan's tenure, Arts OutWest has championed a series of innovative projects to integrate the arts with positive health and wellbeing, foster creative opportunities for Indigenous Australians, expand upon the relationship between arts and tourism and grow the value of the regional music industry.
"Arts OutWest projects are always measured on their cultural, social and economic value, and any of those values have the potential to strengthen regional communities," she said.
"I don't want regional arts to ever be seen as second-rate; we have to both celebrate and make the most of the cultural and creative experiences on offer regionally, the opportunities are endless."
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