Culture Bank — South Coast

Culture Bank — South Coast

 

Culture Bank South Coast

A South Coast Arts project

Donate from $10 a month

Locals backing local creativity

A community-powered fund that puts support directly behind artists, makers and cultural workers across Shellharbour, Kiama and the Shoalhaven.


Kiama High School Mural — Stephanie Quirk & Claire Foxton. Photo: Amanda Mellor.
Your donation could fundYouth comedyOriginal musicLocal theatreMentoringStreet murals

How it works

Good things grow together.

1

You subscribe from $10 a month.

2

Your donation joins a shared local pool.

3

You help choose which projects get funded.

For local creatives

Creative ideas belong here.

If you’re an artist, maker, performer or cultural worker based in Shoalhaven, Kiama or Shellharbour, Culture Bank South Coast is designed with you in mind. Once the funding pool reaches its threshold, you’ll be able to apply through a straightforward Expression of Interest process, no lengthy applications, no complex acquittals. Just a simple way to access community support for your creative work. This is a fund built by local people for local work.

How It Works

Culture Bank South Coast is managed by South Coast Arts in partnership with Culture Bank Wollongong, which has been successfully running this model for over 13 years.

You subscribe with a monthly donation — any amount, starting from $10 a month Your contribution joins a shared pool — we’re working toward a funding threshold of $10,000 Once the threshold is reached, local creative practitioners can apply for funding through a simple Expression of Interest process You and fellow donors have direct input into which projects receive support Funded projects get underway — and you’ll hear about the outcomes No complicated grant processes. No bureaucratic delays. Just community members choosing to back the creative people and projects that make this region extraordinary. Why Subscribe? Your monthly donation: Provides responsive, reliable support to regional creative practitioners Gives you a genuine say in how funding is directed Connects you directly with the artists, makers and cultural workers in your community Helps build a more sustainable creative sector on the South Coast Keeps funding local — raised here, spent here The Kinds of Projects You Could Help Fund Culture Bank South Coast exists to support creative work in all its forms.

Here’s a taste of the kinds of projects your support could bring to life:

Street murals celebrating place and belonging Youth comedy giving young people the chance to perform Theatre production exploring local story, language and identity Creative workspace for people of all ages and abilities Professional mentorship for local creatives Original music rooted in our South Coast Immersive creative programming engaging young and old alike Exhibitions celebrating our many and varied communities and lifestyles Your Contribution Is Tax Deductible South Coast Arts is a registered charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) and holds Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status, meaning your donation may be tax-deductible. Please check with your tax adviser regarding your individual circumstances.

Culture Bank South Coast is an extension of Culture Bank Wollongong, a program that has been connecting community donors with local creatives for over 13 years. South Coast Arts was approached by Culture Bank Wollongong in 2025 to bring this proven model to the South Coast, and the partnership has grown from there into something we’re genuinely excited about.

“What started in Port Kembla has proven that communities want to directly support local creativity. We’re excited to see Culture Bank’s model help South Coast artists the way it’s helped Wollongong creatives for over a decade.”

Cr Ann Martin, Chairperson, Our Community Project.

Whether it’s $10 or $100 a month, every subscription brings us closer to our funding threshold and closer to getting money into the hands of South Coast creatives. If everyone who cares about the cultural life of our region contributed a little, the impact would be enormous.