Politicians are quick to praise Western Sydney as a hotbed of talent, diversity and skill, but according to data released today in the University of Western Sydney’s State of the Arts in Western Sydney 2023 report, the region remains vastly under-resourced compared to other parts of Sydney.

Despite Western Sydney being home to 50% of Sydney residents, approximately 51,000 Indigenous Australians and 10% of all Australians, the region receives less than 3.5% of state cultural infrastructure funding (this figure excludes the $1.1 billion allocated for the new Powerhouse Parramatta).

Eastern Sydney received 23% of state cultural funding.

Western Sydney also received less than 10% of funding awarded across various Create NSW programs, only 3.4% of federal arts funding between 2015 and 2023 and just 1.7% of federal RISE funding for post-pandemic economic recovery.

Riverside Theatres, Parramatta.

In the report, lead researcher Dr Rhonda Itaoui of the Centre for Western Sydney laid out the dollar figures: “Western Sydney received $22.3 million in COVID-19 relief funding awarded by the state government through Create NSW, compared with $161 million awarded to Eastern Sydney. At a federal level, the west received $3.4 million of the total funds...