About us
South West Arts provides strategic direction for sustainable arts and cultural development in the south-west of New South Wales.
We are a partnership between Regional Arts NSW and the local government regions of Balranald, Berrigan, Carrathool, Edward River and Murray River.
South West Arts has an elected board of volunteers and we employ staff members who coordinate and implement arts and cultural development programs across our region.
Our Region
The South West region covers an area of around 78,000 square kilometres with a population of approximately 38,000.
The region is defined by the Murray and Murrumbidgee Rivers and is often referred to as "The Plains." Known for its expansive flat landscapes, it is a predominantly agricultural area where broad horizons, open skies, and fertile soils shape both the environment and the communities who live here.
The region serviced by South West Arts comprises of six Government Areas:
The Team
Kerry-Anne Jones
Executive Director
Kerry-Anne joined South West Arts in 2015. Kerry-Anne’s career spans Federal, State and Local Government focusing on regional, economic and community development. Most of her career has concentrated on southern NSW and northern Victoria, having lived in the region since 1992.
Carlee Rundell-Gordon
Projects and Communications
Carlee joined South West Arts in 2026 in her current full-time position, having worked on a number of project contracts since 2023. Carlee’s career spans health and community development, local government, creative and business ventures, event management, and work across First Nations and multicultural services, all enriched by extensive travel and cultural insight.
Board Members
The South West Arts volunteer board meets 4 times per year around the local region.
Current members are welcome to nominate for the South West Arts board at any time during the year prior to the AGM in April each year.
Please download and complete a member form and board nomination form and submit via email to the South West Arts office. Please note that you need to be an adopted general member before submitting a board nomination.
Rowena Jackson
Chair
Rowena works as a Rural Counsellor for Southern New South Wales and was previously a Business Advisor for the Central Murray Business Enterprise Centre (BEC); President Murella Club Deniliquin; and Vice Commodore, Treasurer/Secretary The Multihull Yacht Club of Victoria.
Rowena holds a Master Business Administration and BA Business (Marketing) as well as having a wealth of experience in fundraising corporate relationship management and event management.
Ian Tully
Deputy Chair
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Ian is a man of many talents. He currently works and the Art Gallery Director, Swan Hill Rural City Council and is an artist in his own right, practicing his craft since 1986. He is also a musician, fine arts lecturer and curator and brings project management skills, public institution management to his role with SWA.
Ian holds BA Fine Arts, Grad Dip Education, Master of Arts (Research), Dip Management Cert iv Workplace Training and Assessment.
Ray Davy
Treasurer
Ray Davy is an advocate for the arts and the role the arts can play in driving social and economic transformation in rural and remote communities.
In April of 2021, Ray was appointed to the Board of Regional Arts NSW.
Airlie Circuitt
Secretary
Former Hay Community Radio Station Manager and Outback Theatre for Young People board member, has specialist skills in communication, media and networking.
Narelle Whitham
Co-Secretary
Narelle is an artist and a passionate disability advocate and supporter of mental health programs and campaigns particulary as they improve the quality of life for farming communities and their families.
Narelle founded an arts program called Art Relief, that provides free art workshops for farmining communities impacted by drought.
Alison Jardine
Alison Jardine
Edwina Circuitt
Edwina Circuitt
Raymond "Splinta" Woods
'Splinta', a Wiradjuri Elder from Hay NSW, joined the SWA Board in 2019. He is a Wiradjuri Language Teacher, Youth Worker and is a project consultant to Outback Theatre for Young People (OTYP). Ray is a Director of Burrumbabili Gilbali, Cag member of the Local Land Service, Hay Aboriginal Working Party member Ray and has a Graduate certificate in Wiradjuri (Yiradyuri) and brings a wealth of lived experience and passion in cultural heritage to the SWA Team.
Our Journey
Founded in 1983 through a partnership between local government, the Arts Council of NSW and community advocates, South West Arts began with the establishment of the Regional Arts Development (RADO) position.
In 1997, South West Arts became fully devolved from the Arts Council of NSW and is now independently managed by the region through an elected board.
For more than 25 years, South West Arts has enriched the cultural life of communities across the south west, supported by strong and growing investment from local councils.
In response to the region’s limited cultural institutions, South West Arts has been the catalyst for two major initiatives that have since become independent organisations.
In 1989, we delivered a three-month youth theatre pilot that led to the creation of the Outback Theatre Program, now Outback Theatre for Young People.
We also supported the establishment of the South West Music Regional Conservatorium, now based in Deniliquin.
We believe the arts strengthen communities by building connection, identity and wellbeing, while also delivering economic benefits through employment and tourism.
South West Arts is committed to honouring the region’s rich cultural history and creating sustainable cultural opportunities for our communities.
South West Arts values the important cultural history of the south west region, and works to enhance and create sustainable cultural opportunities for our communities.
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