Culture Bank South Coast

Local people backing local creatives – directly.

Culture Bank South Coast is a community-powered funding program that puts money directly into the hands of creative practitioners across Shoalhaven, Kiama and Shellharbour. When you become a monthly donor, your contribution joins a shared pool, and you have a direct say in which creative projects it supports.

It’s simple, transparent, and genuinely community-led.

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.

Here’s how your support makes a difference:

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.

Are You a Creative Practitioner?

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.

About the Partnership

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.

South Coast Arts is a regional not-for-profit organisation servicing the creative communities of Shellharbour, Kiama and the Shoalhaven. We provide advocacy, professional services and resources to support creative development across our region.

“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.

No Contribution Is Too Small

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.