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Orange Mayor Jason Hamling has welcomed today’s announcement by NSW Deputy Premier Paul Toole, and Arts Minster Ben Franklin of funding of $762,000 for a three-year regional touring program.

The new funding program, unveiled at Orange Regional Gallery today, will benefit regional galleries across the state for years to come.

Thanks to this new funding, the current exhibition by internationally acclaimed artist William Kentridge, ‘I am not me, the horse is not mine’, which was launched at Orange Regional Gallery in late March, will now have its tour extended to other regional centres across New South Wales.

The new funding program will also enable the popular Wynne Prize for landscape painting to tour regional galleries. While its companion exhibition, the Archibald Portrait Prize, already has a long-established regional touring program, the new funding will allow some of the finest contemporary landscape painting to tour country areas, including Orange Regional Gallery.

Cr Jason Hamling said it was good news for country communities.

“When the Art Gallery of NSW and State Government decided they wanted to see more major exhibitions in regional areas, it was no surprise that they came to Orange to make that announcement,” Cr Jason Hamling said.

“People have been very impressed by the installation of the William Kentridge exhibition in our new $5.5 million Gallery extension. Since it opened in Orange, thousands of people have been through the doors to experience it, with many travelling specifically to the region to see it. Its success here has contributed to this new development whereby more people in other regional centres will be able to see it.

“In Orange, art is great for tourism. It’s great for the cultural life of our local residents. We have rich education programs for our school students. It makes our community a better and more attractive place to live.”