Arts Mid North Coast

What Arts Mid North Coast does

Arts Mid North Coast (AMNC), legally Arts Mid North Coast Inc, is a registered Australian charity and the designated Regional Arts Development Organisation (RADO) for the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, operating across five local government areas (Coffs Harbour, Bellingen, Nambucca Valley, Kempsey, and Port Macquarie-Hastings) on the traditional lands of the Gumbaynggirr, Dunghutti and Biripi Nations. Founded in 1998, the organisation functions as the peak body for arts and creative industries in the region and is one of 15 RADOs supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW. It serves individual artists and creative practitioners, local councils, schools, First Nations organisations, and the broader community through a portfolio of programs including artist mentorship (Shared Practice), music video production (MiNi Digital Concerts), youth arts development, arts/health and creative recovery initiatives, retail space activation (MAKE/SPACE with Gowings Bros.), and a regional events calendar, directory of 100+ venues, and 13 cultural trails.

The organisation operates a WordPress-based digital platform at artsmidnorthcoast.com comprising an event calendar, venue directory, news and grants portal, SmartArt resources hub, and free content submission system, supported by a monthly ArtsBlast newsletter and social channels (Facebook, Instagram, video series). It does not develop proprietary technology. Core revenue is derived from NSW Government RADO funding (Create NSW), federal Creative Australia project grants, fee-for-service consultancy to councils, tax-deductible donations via the Raisely platform, and modest rental income from MAKE/SPACE at $100/week. Operations are run by a seven-person team working remotely across the region.

Strategically, AMNC's go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, combining direct service delivery (workshops, mentorship, youth programs) with network-based council and partner channels and a self-serve content submission platform. Its competitive position rests on government-conferred RADO status, a structurally embedded regional network spanning five LGAs and multiple arts and education partners, and a near-monopoly on aggregated arts promotion in the Mid North Coast.

Name

Arts Mid North Coast

Legal name

Arts Mid North Coast Inc

Website

https://artsmidnorthcoast.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Arts Mid North Coast is an Australian non-profit and designated Regional Arts Development Organisation (RADO) supporting artists, councils, schools, and First Nations communities across five Mid North Coast LGAs through grants, mentorship, events, and venue directories.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regional Arts Development Services

NAICS

Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71), Fine Arts Schools (611610)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Cultural Centers & Community Cultural Organizations (BPAGAHAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Cultural, Arts & Humanities Community Education (Museums/Arts Councils) (EDAAAFAD)

Keywords

• Regional arts development
• Arts and cultural programs
• Creative sector support
• Community arts engagement
• Artist professional development

Headquarters

HQ city

Macksville

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding and Grants: Arts Mid North Coast receives support from the NSW Government through Create NSW and is part of a network of 15 Regional Arts Development Organisations (RADOs) in NSW. The organization also receives funding from Creative Australia and other government sources to deliver programs and projects.
2. Fee-for-Service Consultancy: The organization offers fee-for-service project management and consultancy supporting the delivery of arts and cultural programs in partnership with councils, organisations and communities.
3. Donations and Fundraising: As a registered charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) and Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR), Arts Mid North Coast accepts donations. Donations of $2 or more are tax-deductible in Australia.
4. MAKE/SPACE Rental Program: The MAKE/SPACE program charges $100 per week for creative activation opportunities in retail spaces, covering electricity and administrative support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Arts Mid North Coast is the peak Regional Arts Development Organisation (RADO) for the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, delivering programs, services and resources to support artists, creative practitioners and communities. Core offerings include a regional events calendar, a venues and cultural trails directory, a news and grants portal, the SmartArt professional development resources hub, the MAKE/SPACE creative activation program, the Shared Practice artist mentorship program, the MiNi Digital Concerts music series, and Youth Arts and Arts/Health initiatives.

Product overview

Arts Mid North Coast operates a multi-component digital platform centered on its website (artsmidnorthcoast.com) that serves as a comprehensive arts and cultural hub for the Mid North Coast region of NSW. The core offering consists of an event calendar (What's On), a venues and cultural trails directory, a news and grants portal, and the SmartArt professional development resources. The organization delivers its mission through distinct programs including MAKE/SPACE (creative spaces activation), MiNi Digital Concerts (music video series), Shared Practice (artist mentorship), Youth Arts Development, and Arts Health & Recovery initiatives. A monthly ArtsBlast newsletter and free content submission service enable community engagement, while a donations platform (via Raisely) supports funding. The portfolio functions as a unified community platform rather than a traditional SaaS product, connecting artists, audiences, councils, and cultural organizations across the region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• What's On Events Calendar A free regional events calendar showcasing arts and cultural events across the Mid North Coast of NSW, with filters by event type and region, plus free event submission for organisers.
• Directory (Venues, Cultural Trails, Creative Places) A searchable directory of over 100 arts venues, 13 cultural trails and creative places across the Mid North Coast, covering galleries, museums, heritage sites, public art, performing arts venues and inclusive arts locations.
• News and Grants Portal A news aggregation platform delivering arts news, grant opportunities and non-grant opportunities for the creative sector across the Mid North Coast, including funding information from Creative Australia, Regional Arts Fund and local council grants.
• SmartArt Resources and Professional Development A resource hub providing practical business tools, project guides, research materials and professional development workshops for artists and creative workers, covering business, creative ageing, creative recovery, cultural tourism, funding, marketing and policy categories.
• MAKE/SPACE Creative Activation Program A flagship creative spaces program, delivered in partnership with Gowings Bros. Ltd, providing short-term activation opportunities in vacant retail spaces across Coffs Harbour, Kempsey and Port Macquarie at $100/week, supporting artists and makers with experimental exhibitions, workshops and studio spaces.
• MiNi (Digital) Concerts An online live music video series and professional development program showcasing emerging artists from the Mid North Coast, providing professionally produced live video recordings, promotional photography and professional development workshops. Delivered in partnership with Music NSW.
• Shared Practice: Artist Mentorship Program An 18-month professional development and mentorship program for emerging and mid-career visual artists living and working on the Mid North Coast, structured around mentor pairings, professional development workshops, industry panels and a culminating group exhibition, with $1,650 stipends per participant.
• Youth Arts Development Programs empowering young creatives aged 13-24 across the Mid North Coast, including the SOUND FUTURES youth music program, Creative Sparks creative industries workshops, the Horizons mentoring program and Creative Collaborations with Charles Sturt University.
• Arts, Health and Recovery Programs Initiatives including Creative Recovery for disaster-affected communities, Creative Ageing programs, the Musicians In Hospitals pilot program and The Art Remedy Podcast exploring arts' role in community building.
• ArtsBlast Newsletter A monthly curated email newsletter delivering arts news, events and opportunities to subscribers, with content preferences selectable by Local Government Area region and creative discipline.
• Mid North Coast Art Files Video Series A video documentary series profiling local Mid North Coast artists, their studio spaces, projects, inspiration and techniques, including Creative Recovery program documentation and artist showcase episodes.
• Fee-for-Service Arts Consultancy A paid project management and consultancy service supporting the delivery of arts and cultural programs in partnership with councils, organisations and communities.

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Saltwater Freshwater Arts Alliance (SWFW)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2025Partnership for First Nations Professional Development Program. Delivered 'Empowering Artists for the Future' program in Coffs Harbour, providing culturally safe and artist-led professional development for First Nations artists.
• Regional Arts NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Network of 15 RADOs in NSW working collaboratively on regional arts development. Arts Mid North Coast is one of 15 Regional Arts Development Organisations in the state.
• Yarrila Arts & MuseumsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgram delivery partner for Shared Practice Artist Mentorship Program, providing venue and support for mentorship activities.
• Gowings Bros. LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMAKE/SPACE program partner providing vacant retail spaces across Coffs Harbour, Kempsey, and Port Macquarie for creative activations by local artists and makers. The partnership embeds creativity into main streets and public spaces.
• Music NSWcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for MiNi (digital) Concerts program delivering online live music video series and professional development for emerging artists. Music NSW provides program expertise, industry connections, and co-funding.
• Glasshouse Regional GallerysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgram delivery partner for Shared Practice Artist Mentorship Program, contributing venue and industry expertise.
• Nulla Nulla Regional GallerysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgram delivery partner for Shared Practice Artist Mentorship Program.
• Local Councils (Coffs Harbour, Bellingen, Nambucca Valley, Kempsey, Port Macquarie-Hastings)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCouncil Support partnerships delivering cultural planning support, community arts initiatives, and strategic projects aligned with local priorities. Supported by all five LGAs in the region.
• Aboriginal Regional Arts Alliance (ARAA)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional development partnership connecting local artists to broader Aboriginal arts networks and opportunities. Pene Riggs, Project Manager, delivered keynote at First Nations Professional Development Program.
• Charles Sturt University (CSU) - Port Macquarie CampussupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for 'Creative Collaborations' program designed to strengthen connections between newly arrived and international students and the local community through artist-led creative sessions.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Regional Arts NSW: The peak body representing all 15 Regional Arts Development Organisations (RADOs) in NSW, including Arts Mid North Coast. Directly comparable as the umbrella organisation coordinating the same regional arts development network AMNC belongs to.
• Arts Northern Rivers: Another NSW RADO serving the Northern Rivers region with a directly analogous mandate — delivering regional arts development, funding programmes, events directories, and professional development for artists. Operates with similar funding model (Create NSW) and programme mix.
• Arts North West: A NSW RADO covering the New England North West region with directly comparable structure, funding base, and programme portfolio including artist development, community arts, and events promotion across regional LGAs.
• Southern Tablelands Arts: A NSW RADO serving the Southern Tablelands region. Directly comparable in mandate, funding model, and programme mix — supporting artists, councils, and community arts programmes across multiple regional LGAs.

Regional players

• Country Arts WA: Western Australia's equivalent regional arts development body, delivering comparable programmes (artist residencies, community arts, cultural development) across regional WA. Highly comparable operating model but in a different state jurisdiction.
• Regional Arts Victoria: Victoria's peak body for regional arts development. Operates a directly analogous model (RADO-style regional coverage, government funding, artist services, community programmes) but is geographically based in Victoria, not NSW.
• Outback Arts: A NSW RADO serving the far west of the state, operating under the same Regional Arts Development Organisation framework with comparable community-led, arts development mandate but covering a much more remote and sparsely populated region.

Broad incumbents

• Creative Australia: Australia's federal arts funding and policy body (formerly Australia Council for the Arts). Provides significant grant funding to Arts Mid North Coast and the broader RADO network — a funder and policy-setter rather than direct competitor, but operates in the same arts development space.
• Create NSW: NSW Government arts and cultural policy agency that channels core funding to all 15 RADOs including Arts Mid North Coast. A funder/incumbent in the same arts development ecosystem rather than a peer operator.

Emerging players

• Springboard for the Arts: A US-based community arts development organisation that operates a comparable model of grassroots artist support, community programmes, and creative placemaking. Not directly competitive (geography) but a strong conceptual peer in community-led arts development practice.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/artsmidnorthcoast
• Instagraminstagram.com/artsmidnorthcoast

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Arts Mid North Coast