Latest news with #JohnGraham
The Age
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Age
Major festival news for western Sydney – and that's just the start
NSW Labor has promised to redress a funding divide stretching between the harbour and the Blue Mountains that splits the city between the arts' haves and have-nots – spending $5 million to fund a new home-grown festival for western Sydney and other new projects. The government's three-year strategic plan for the region is to be announced at a gathering of the region's arts leaders at Blacktown Arts Centre on Tuesday. Front and centre of the new funding plans is development of a home-grown festival celebrating the region's diversity and creative spirit that could potentially rival Vivid, South by Southwest Sydney, or even the Sydney Festival. Campbelltown's Fisher's Ghost Festival and Parramatta Lanes are among the region's longest-running festivals, while Parramasala, celebrating south Asian arts, was cancelled in 2020 due to COVID and has yet to return. In opposition, Labor asserted Parramasala should be funded ahead of the Logies. 'In short, the vision is to create a thriving and inclusive creative ecosystem in western Sydney that celebrates its diverse communities, drives cultural innovation and delivers social and economic value for everyone,' Arts Minister John Graham will say. 'To get there the key priorities are unlocking investment, putting First Nations' culture at the centre, growing creative careers, strengthening creative ecosystems, better showcasing off western Sydney artists, and unlocking more cultural spaces.' This week's launch of the Western Sydney Plan for Arts, Culture and Creative Industries comes 25 years after former premier Bob Carr launched Labor's first western Sydney cultural strategy in 1999. The new $5 million funding commitment will be met entirely from cost savings made to Create NSW, the state's art agency, which is facing the loss of one-quarter of its workforce under a major restructure.
Sydney Morning Herald
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
Major festival news for western Sydney – and that's just the start
NSW Labor has promised to redress a funding divide stretching between the harbour and the Blue Mountains that splits the city between the arts' haves and have-nots – spending $5 million to fund a new home-grown festival for western Sydney and other new projects. The government's three-year strategic plan for the region is to be announced at a gathering of the region's arts leaders at Blacktown Arts Centre on Tuesday. Front and centre of the new funding plans is development of a home-grown festival celebrating the region's diversity and creative spirit that could potentially rival Vivid, South by Southwest Sydney, or even the Sydney Festival. Campbelltown's Fisher's Ghost Festival and Parramatta Lanes are among the region's longest-running festivals, while Parramasala, celebrating south Asian arts, was cancelled in 2020 due to COVID and has yet to return. In opposition, Labor asserted Parramasala should be funded ahead of the Logies. 'In short, the vision is to create a thriving and inclusive creative ecosystem in western Sydney that celebrates its diverse communities, drives cultural innovation and delivers social and economic value for everyone,' Arts Minister John Graham will say. 'To get there the key priorities are unlocking investment, putting First Nations' culture at the centre, growing creative careers, strengthening creative ecosystems, better showcasing off western Sydney artists, and unlocking more cultural spaces.' This week's launch of the Western Sydney Plan for Arts, Culture and Creative Industries comes 25 years after former premier Bob Carr launched Labor's first western Sydney cultural strategy in 1999. The new $5 million funding commitment will be met entirely from cost savings made to Create NSW, the state's art agency, which is facing the loss of one-quarter of its workforce under a major restructure.
The Age
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Age
‘Sydney is not a shallow city': Major change for Sydney Writers' Festival
The Sydney Writers' Festival will deliver year-round storytelling at a new dedicated literature hub to be established at Australia's oldest library amid warnings that without paid speaking gigs professional writing will become an unviable occupation within 20 years. Almost 30 years after launching at the State Library of NSW in 1997, the festival is to become a resident company of the Macquarie Street institution in the same way that Opera Australia performs mostly in the Concert Hall of the Sydney Opera House. Arts Minister John Graham has awarded $1.5 million to the writers' festival for the first year for events at the library – outside its one-week annual May festival at Carriageworks – starting from September. The investment precedes the upcoming launch of the state's writing and literature strategy – the first time an Australian government has put together a comprehensive plan to support writing and literature, Graham said. 'I see Sydney as a city of ideas. I don't accept that Sydney is a shallow city,' he said. 'We've got some of the best writers, some of the most engaged readers and writers and, with the library and the festival working together, it will strengthen both institutions.' Festival-led talks and events at the library will rise from the current trial of six to 10 a year to between 75 and 80 events annually, confirming the library as the festival's second home. It's all part of the evolution of the writers' festival into a literary institution that conducts year-round events programs for local and international thinkers and a platform for new and diverse voices in the manner of Melbourne's Wheeler Centre. 'That's huge growth for Sydney Writers' Festival, and presents increased opportunities and access both for the literature sector and for NSW,' the festival's chief executive Brooke Webb said. 'There are shrinking paid opportunities for writers right now and, if we don't address this now, in 20 years' time writing just won't be a viable choice for people.' In Australia, writers are among the poorest paid creatives, earning on average $18,500 a year, yet reading and writing remain vital to personal wellbeing, and economic and social prosperity.
Sydney Morning Herald
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Sydney is not a shallow city': Major change for Sydney Writers' Festival
The Sydney Writers' Festival will deliver year-round storytelling at a new dedicated literature hub to be established at Australia's oldest library amid warnings that without paid speaking gigs professional writing will become an unviable occupation within 20 years. Almost 30 years after launching at the State Library of NSW in 1997, the festival is to become a resident company of the Macquarie Street institution in the same way that Opera Australia or the Sydney Symphony Orchestra performs mostly in the Sydney Opera House. Arts Minister John Graham has awarded $1.5 million to the writers' festival for the first year for events at the library – outside its one-week annual May festival at Carriageworks – starting from September. The investment precedes the upcoming launch of the state's writing and literature strategy – the first time an Australian government has put together a comprehensive plan to support writing and literature, Graham said. 'I see Sydney as a city of ideas. I don't accept that Sydney is a shallow city,' he said. 'We've got some of the best writers, some of the most engaged readers and writers and, with the library and the festival working together, it will strengthen both institutions.' Festival-led talks and events at the library will rise from the current trial of six to 10 a year to between 75 and 80 events annually, confirming the library as the festival's second home. It's all part of the evolution of the writers' festival into a literary institution that conducts year-round events programs for local and international thinkers and a platform for new and diverse voices in the manner of Melbourne's Wheeler Centre. 'That's huge growth for Sydney Writers' Festival, and presents increased opportunities and access both for the literature sector and for NSW,' the festival's chief executive Brooke Webb said. 'There are shrinking paid opportunities for writers right now and, if we don't address this now, in 20 years' time writing just won't be a viable choice for people.' In Australia, writers are among the poorest paid creatives, earning on average $18,500 a year, yet reading and writing remain vital to personal wellbeing, and economic and social prosperity.
Perth Now
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Perth Now
Common item facing train ban
The NSW government is 'seriously considering' banning e-bikes on train and Metro services following a spate of battery-related fires, as it calls on the Albanese government to tighten import regulations. Commuters took to social media on Wednesday to share images of a poster at a NSW train station, believed to have been put up in error, urging passengers not to bring e-bikes or e-scooters on board. Transport Minister John Graham said the state government was mulling a temporary ban on e-mobility devices on trains, similar to one already enforced in London, amid pleas to the federal government. Two Australian states are mulling a ban of e-bikes on train services. NewsWire / Max Mason-Hubers Credit: News Corp Australia 'NSW along with Victoria is seeking the support of the Commonwealth to strengthen rules around e-bikes and e-scooters to prevent the importation of dangerous devices and reduce the risk of lithium-ion battery fires,' he said. 'Due to poor manufacturing overseas and the absence of battery safety standards, there has been an increasing number of battery fires in both our states, including on a train in Melbourne and a train station in Sydney. 'In NSW, we are seriously considering options including a temporary ban on trains until we are satisfied that regulations are tight enough, with public safety as our highest priority.' Transport Minister John Graham 'seriously considering' a ban of e-bikes on train and Metro services. NewsWire / Monique Harmer Credit: News Corp Australia It is understood the ban would likely come into effect in September. It comes after an e-bike battery-related fire on-board a train at union railway station in Melbourne's east triggered an urgent evacuation earlier this year. Lithium-ion batteries, which power devices such as e-bikes, e-scooters, and e-skateboards, have also been blamed for a significant number of house fires in recent years amid a surge in popularity. The Victorian government is calling on the public to comment on its proposed train regulations, which would restrict e-mobility device use on trains, trams, and buses. Under the proposed changes, e-bikes and e-scooters would no longer be allowed on trains and coaches, with only foldable e-scooters and e-bikes allowed on trains and buses. A consultation on the plans is open until August 18. E-bikes have occupied a legal grey area in NSW. NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short Credit: News Corp Australia Other battery-powered mobility devices such as e-skateboards and e-unicycles would be banned from trains, trams, buses and coaches, though traditional mobility scooters would still be permitted. The Victorian government said the proposed changes were in response to the prevalence of poorly made or modified devices, including unregulated e-bike conversions, which posed a heightened fire risk. E-bikes and other mobility devices have surged in popularity in recent years among commuters, but pose an evolving policy risk for government. In May, the NSW government proposed allowing e-bikes on some streets and paths for the first time, with the devices having previously occupied a legal grey area. About 1.3 million e-mobility devices, including e-bikes, are estimated to be is use in the state.
