For over 45 years, the Band Association of NSW (BANSW) and 110 affiliated community bands have enriched towns and suburbs across the State. Through the Create NSW Community Band Development Grants, volunteers have delivered free performances, commissioned Australian composers, mentored thousands of young musicians, and built inclusive communities where music fosters connection, wellbeing, and belonging.

In August 2025, this decades-long partnership was abruptly ended. BANSW’s applications for 2-year and 4-year funding were rejected—via an automated email—despite repeated praise from the NSW Government and Create NSW describing community bands as “special,” “vital,” and “embedded in daily life.”

The consequences are serious:

• Only 10 of 153 Create NSW multi-year grants went to music, just $2 million out of $31.4 million.
• No volunteer-driven or state-wide arts service organisation received funding.
• Meanwhile, hundreds of millions go to sports infrastructure, leaving grassroots music behind.
• Community bands are not a luxury. They are the heartbeat of our suburbs, towns, and regions. They bring joy to audiences, opportunities to young people, and a safe, welcoming space for all ages and abilities.

We call on Minister for the Arts John Graham to:

• Urgently review Create NSW’s decisions on community music.
• Meet with BANSW to ensure grassroots arts are supported in future funding.
• Honour public commitments to inclusive, volunteer-led organisations that deliver proven cultural and social value.

Without support, this proud tradition and its extraordinary contributions to NSW communities are at risk.

👉 Please sign and share to save community banding in NSW.