Bundanon Trust welcomes $33 million in Federal Government funding

The Bundanon Trust in Shoalhaven is among a number of Australian cultural institutions set to benefit from $535 million in funding over four years in the upcoming Federal budget.

As the only National Collecting Institution in regional Australia, Bundanon has an important role to play in shaping the nation’s cultural identity. Supporting land care, sustainability, and the careful stewardship of this ancient landscape, it fosters close, deep relationships with broad and diverse communities including, especially, First Nations communities through the south coast and beyond.

After years of underfunding, Federal Arts Minister Tony Burke and Federal Finance Minister Katy Gallagher made the pre-budget announcement yesterday, delivering much needed funds to Bundanon along with other institutions including the National Gallery of Australia (NGA), the National Library of Australia (NLA), the National Museum of Australia, the National Portrait Gallery, the Museum of Australian Democracy, the National Archives and the National Film and Sound Archive and the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney.

The funding forms part of the Federal Government’s national cultural policy, aimed at creating a “strong cultural infrastructure” for the nation.

Samuel Edwards Bundanon Chair and Rachel Kent Bundanon Chief Executive commented that the $33 million funding will ensure Bundanon, one of the nine National Collecting Institutions, continues to grow and thrive as one of Australia’s most significant cultural organisations. It is particularly timely as this year Bundanon celebrates its 30th anniversary. Established in 1993, Bundanon was gifted to the Australian people by Arthur and Yvonne Boyd, representing one of the most significant acts of philanthropy in the history of the arts in Australia.

Kent enthused “we are delighted and heartened to receive this vital funding uplift by the Australian Government for Bundanon in its new public chapter. This valued and timely support for all the National Collecting Institutions demonstrates its recognition of the centrality of culture, creativity and the arts for Australia today. The new National Cultural Policy - Revive is an important milestone, and today’s funding announcement demonstrates that the Government has listened closely, looked deeply, and understood clearly the pivotal role of creativity in strengthening and connecting our community and telling the Nation’s many diverse stories.  

“This funding will give Bundanon a sustainable future, allowing it to grow in the new infrastructure, reach new audiences, and build and deliver innovative exhibitions, live programs, multi-disciplinary residencies and learning opportunities for all ages within the landscape of the Shoalhaven, on south coast NSW.”   

Bundanon opened the doors to its new Art Museum and Bridge for Creative Learning in early 2022, welcoming over 50,000 visitors in its first year.

On Saturday 1st April 2023 Bundanon opened the exhibition season, fantastic forms, curated by Boe-Lin Bastian and Sophie O’Brien, at the new Art Museum. Honouring the Boyd family legacy, fantastic forms brings new commissions by three contemporary Australian artists, Nabilah Nordin, Stephen Benwell and Rubyrose Bancroft, into conversation with Bundanon's expansive collection of drawings and ceramics by artist William Merric Boyd (1888 –1959), Arthur Boyd’s father.