Already reeling from the Omicron surge across the state, arts organisations in NSW face an even more uncertain future with NSW Arts Minister Don Harwin exiting the Arts portfolio ahead of a major reshuffle of the NSW cabinet by Premier Dominic Perrottet.

The Arts portfolio has been handed to the National’s Ben Franklin, who will also be Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and for Regional Youth. Encouragingly for arts organisations, Franklin has been Parliamentary Secretary for the Arts since May 2019, so does bring continuity to the portfolio despite this being his first time in cabinet.

Incoming NSW Arts Minister Ben Franklin. Image supplied.

A former NSW State Director of the Nationals from 2008 to 2015, Franklin was elected to the NSW upper house in 2015. The child of two school teachers, Franklin grew up in Barham and Coal Point before being awarded an academic scholarship to study at Sydney’s prestigious Cranbrook School. And he has a hereditary link to the Arts – Franklin’s great-great-uncle was Banjo Paterson.

Harwin’s four-year tenure as Arts Minister has been hugely significant, especially in regards to arts infrastructure in NSW....