Hume Conservatorium Director Paul Scott-Williams is appointed to Contemporary Music Board

NSW Arts Minister Don Harwin has recently made the announcement.

This is a huge coup for Goulburn as it reflects the growing influence and interest the city has across NSW and the potential of having a regional voice in the upper echelons of the arts.

Mr Scott-Williams is also the Deputy Chair of Regional Arts NSW and the Vice-President (Internal) of the Association of NSW Regional Conservatoriums.

"I applied because I felt I have something to offer and because I straddle several state-wide bodies and if I could have a voice at the table, then I should have a voice at that table," Mr Scott-Williams said.

"It is good to represent or Goulburn as well. We are always trying to break down that urban-regional divide."

Mr Scott-Williams has been heavily involved in the ArtsState Festivals, which has been a catalyst to open up arts practice in the regions.

"Last year's event at Bathurst had more attending from cities than the regions. The penny is starting to drop that things are being developed in regional NSW that need to be seen," he said.

He said artists working in regional areas often tell him they are freer to create here.

"People in these areas might feel freer to be innovative. They can create a different voice that is coming from the heartland," he said.

"I am an advocate for arts and music in regional areas. There is a lot of excellence in regional areas being produced. That is the ideal showcase for these works to be produced."

The Hume Conservatorium won an APRA award in 2014 for Excellence in Regional Australia.

"That meant something to me - that you can have an impact on a national scale while working in the regions," he said.

He said Create NSW is streamlining funding for arts projects across the state.

"Rather than having 14 previous individual funding rounds it will be two open rounds that will be assessed by a number of arts-specific boards," he said.

"They are trying to set up a mechanism by which artists can more specifically tailor their funding applications. In the past application processes have myriad aspects."

The criteria have been reduced from 26 to three.

"These categories are merit, viability and impact. These are the three things you want in an arts project - that it is a great idea, can be afforded, and will have an impact on people it is targeting and the community," he said.

"It might allow artists more time developing the ideas and less time on administration."

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