The Bereijklian government has been urged to abandon the new Parramatta Powerhouse Museum following the departure of the project's leading advocate, the former Arts Minister Don Harwin.

Opponents doubled down on their criticism of the $1 billion relocation project with the arts sector calling on the NSW Premier to instead give urgent priority to immediate heart-starter measures to revive the state's cultural life.

An artist's impression of the design for the new Powerhouse Museum in Parramatta.

NSW is alone among Australia's major states yet to have specifically redressed the financial impacts to theatres, museums, galleries and arts workers during the pandemic. A decision by NSW Treasury is thought to be imminent.

From inside State Cabinet and his position on the Expenditure Review Committee, Mr Harwin had been a passionate champion of the arts, according to Museum of Contemporary Arts chairman Simon Mordant.