Since July, when Inverell Shire Council voted not to renew its membership of Arts North West, the regional arts organisation said it had refused assistance to local people and events.

“Arts North West has been working with and supporting stakeholders in the Inverell Shire Council area for 16 years,” said Jane Kreis, regional arts development officer at Arts North West. 

“While we understand financial circumstances led to the decision by Inverell Shire Council to not renew its membership this year, it has been disappointing and frustrating as we aim to support the development of arts and culture across the region.”

Arts North West is the regional arts board for the New England North West. It is one of 14 Regional Arts Boards in NSW. 

Each works with other organisations in their region, and the other Regional Arts Boards in the state, to provide strategic direction for sustainable arts and cultural development. 

The Arts North West Regional Arts Board continues to receive financial support from Arts NSW and 12 local governments in the New England North West region.

“Since July, there have been numerous opportunities for us to support Inverell Shire residents and organisations,” Dr Kreis said. 

“Unfortunately, Inverell Council’s decision means we are unable to offer our services in that area any longer.”

The Inverell 2013 -2014 membership contribution of $7414 was scaled in accordance with each local government's population.

It ensured local government members continued to partner with one another and the state government to provide a regional arts board for the New England North West. 

For contributing members and their constituents Arts North West core services and programs were made available free of charge.

“Arts North West is deeply saddened by the increasing amount of artists and organisations to which we have to refuse service and support,” said Dr Kreis. 

“Arts and culture in regional NSW thrives on regular engagement and the sharing of limited resources. 

“Much of this engagement occurs outside of single local government boundaries.” 

According to Dr Kreis, by limiting Inverell's cultural engagement with its regional arts board, the education, cultural tourism, health, and professional development of that community was just as much at risk as the better understood arts sector of galleries and theatres. 

“Even the most well-known artist or arts organisations in Inverell Shire required external support and services from peak organisations such as Arts North West if they were going to sustain their work or their own stakeholders. 

“Shared resourcing of arts support is critical to building capacity and minimising the isolation that is widely recognised in regional NSW. 

“Arts North West hopes that when memberships are made available at the end of the 2013-14 financial year, Inverell Shire Council will re-join so that we can continue to offer their constituents the cultural support they require,” Dr Kreis said. 

“If in the meantime, Inverell Shire Council should reconsider their decision to withdraw membership Arts North West would also consider reinstating its services.”

 Arts North West said it has been unable to offer its support to the following requests from local residents, cultural organisations and schools:

* Arts North West was not able to assist local singing talent Breanna Krauss to attend an invitation from Australia's Got Talent to attend an audition in Coffs Harbour.

* Arts North West could not respond to a request by Yetman Primary School to facilitate an arts workshop.

* Arts North West could not provide publishing assistance to a local poet.

* The New England Conservatorium of Music (NECOM) was unable to access advice from Arts North West on support for Inverell Campus.

* Inverell Shire has not been included in the 2014 Film Production awareness campaign. 

* National Geographic magazine approached Arts North West for digital images of Inverell from its Film New England North West image database for an upcoming article on fossicking. Arts North West could not provide Inverell images, but was able to provide images for other local government area members who specialise in fossicking which were included. The final image from Inverell was a screenshot from our website.

* Monthly Arts North West e-Bulletin subscriptions by Inverell Shire residents and organisations have been cancelled. 

* There has been no Country Arts Support Program Funding given to Inverell Shire for 2013-2014. 

* Places at Arts North West 2014 Effective and Affordable Promotion workshops have been withdrawn. 

* Arts North West did not include Inverell when distributing the NSW Minister for the Arts ‘Sculpture By She Sea’ offer.