Storm Season: What’s changing in the Northern Rivers by Tandi Palmer Williams

In November, a group of representatives from the region's arts organisations gathered at the Bangalow A&I Hall. It was a chance to debrief on the outcome of multi-year funding applications, and take a fresh look at how we work together as an ecosystem. I was there as facilitator, listening for what we share and where we might work together.

Rain pelted down outside, loud enough to interrupt the conversation. It was a reminder that storm season is here. According to the Aboriginal seasons calendar developed by Tweed Byron Local Aboriginal Land Council and Tweed Regional Museum, Moogerahmbu brings yugari (pippis) and jubi (mud crabs). The winds vary between the north-north-east and south. Many bird species begin hatching and many plants and fruit begin to emerge.

Storm season feels symbolic of the times we find ourselves in. There's turmoil - and the need to take cover! But after stormy nights, we emerge into beautiful clear mornings. This year I spent time listening for what's growing beneath the surface. Following the publication of Who We Are in April, I offered to run monthly Creative Data Desk sessions, to support our region's artists and organisations to use the research.

It was an honour to hear what some of you are grappling with. The conversations varied from funding applications to career changes, evaluation ideas and advocacy. As the Data Desk concludes this month, I’ve been thinking about the common threads that stood out, and what they reveal about the season we're in.

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Space

Establishing new spaces, and activating existing spaces, stood out as top priorities in Who We Are, particularly from independent artists who struggle to find affordable places to make, gather and present work. The housing crisis, natural disasters and increasing costs to stage events are making it harder. What people actually want isn't a big new cultural centre; the research instead showed our creative sector want semi-commercial spaces in villages across the region. There's a strong preference for adapting existing spaces, and making them financially and physically accessible, over major new developments.

The topic has come up in many Data Desk conversations, and as the year marched on, I found myself worrying about the impossible situation and the lack of answers. But like plants emerging in storm season, green shoots are appearing. Byron Shire Council is reviewing and upgrading their Community Halls. NORPA secured initial funding to acquire The Joinery. Kyogle Council is making a vacant shopfront available for creatives. Tweed Shire Council and Arts Northern Rivers created Tweed Spaces to pilot a new solution for creative developments. Remediation and renovation works are now complete at a whole range of cultural venues, and many organisations have buildings and equipment to share and activate.

Perhaps 2026 won't be about big new developments. Perhaps it will be about sharing the buildings we have in more ways.

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Business models

Another storm front: business models. The models that sustained us in the past are straining under present realities. Arts funding isn't growing, and many artists and organisations are exploring new territory - tourism, health, environment, education. The Who Are We? survey showed that 8 in 10 artists in the region are already intersecting with another industry – using their skills to contribute to other fields, juggling day jobs and volunteer positions. But my Data Desk conversations revealed opportunities for more strategic partnerships.

In September I worked with Arts Northern Rivers to host a conversation about cultural tourism among arts leaders, and how we can work together with tourism in future. In November, Business NSW brought together creative industries and the visitor economy to explore regional liveability - how we live, innovate, and where money flows. These cross-sector conversations feel essential now.

The year ahead will test whether cross-sector partnerships can grow into sustainable support. The old certainties are shifting, and the new ones are still taking shape.

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Connection and collaboration

Who We Are showed that our region has more than 2,100 creative businesses. But here's the thing: 60% of them are sole traders. Our hills, flood plains and coastlines are full of creatives, yet we’re often feeling isolated. When asked what professional development matters most, opportunities to collaborate topped the list. The challenge is resourcing it - collaboration is actual work, not something that happens through good intentions. The distances between us are real.

Yet what's hatching beneath the surface gives me hope. Arts Northern Rivers' Sector Gatherings brought hundreds of people together in Grafton, Byron and Lismore. New initiatives like Creative Caldera and SOAP Social are creating opportunities and relationships. More sections of the rail trail have opened, adding new connections between our towns. NORPA's Village Circuit Tour launches in the new year, joining our communities in a loop of live performance.

We're a region hungry to connect and collaborate. What else can we do together?

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Storm season is here and the winds shift direction. But jubi are plentiful, birds are hatching, fruit is emerging.

I wish you a wonderful break: time to notice what's growing, and what we want to nurture together.

After the storms, clear mornings await.