Armidale region and the New England is home to a wide range of cultural organisations including Arts North West who support the development of arts and culture regionally by creating and managing cultural projects to benefit the community. Arts North West was established in 1996 as a Regional Arts Development Program, and later established as an independent Regional Arts Board in 1997.
The Armidale branch of the Australian Decorative and Fine Arts Societies offer their members monthly informative and entertaining illustrated lectures plus some workshops covering a broad range of subjects relating to art. The talks are usually complemented by a friendly social gathering before or after with refreshments.
The New England Writers' Centre has been operating for more than 20 years and offers writing and illustrating workshops, professional opportunities, fabulous literary events, as well as showcases local talent. Based in Armidale, it also offers some outreach programs to other New England centres, both physically and through video conferencing and Skype. Members also receive regular newsletters and email digests. Flagship programs include Youth Online, Booked In, the Skype Sessions, and more. The Centre also runs a national writing award, the New England Thunderbolt Prize for Crime Writing.