INVERELL Shire Council has voted not to pay its annual membership to the Arts North West Regional Arts Board.
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The decision has outraged the board, who said the decision effectively withdrawals local residents, organisations and businesses from the Arts North West network.
“On the basis of the decision by Inverell Shire Council, Arts North West regrets that it is no longer able to provide any services or programs to Inverell Shire Council and the Inverell Shire,” Jane Kreis, regional arts development officer at Arts North West, said.
“This withdrawal also applies to anyone living in the Inverell Shire or who is seeking access to our services or programs on behalf of an Inverell Shire based project or organisation.”
Council’s general manager Paul Henry said the number of requests they received for assistance with cultural activities exceeded the budget allocation that council has provided for that type of activity.
“Council had to make some choices and one of the choices was to not to renew its membership of Arts North West,” Mr Henry said.
“Obviously council’s starting to experience cost pressures, and it needs to limit its expenditure on certain activities to the budget allocation that’s provided.”
He said the council decided to continue to support local cultural groups directly with the funds available.
Asked if the council would have a similar service for Inverell Shire stakeholders to replace Arts North West, Mr Henry said: “That’s not a service that we provide.
“We’re not taking on the role that Arts North West carried out.”
Ms Kries said Arts North West would be contacting stakeholders in the shire with the news and recommend those affected by the decision contact the council directly.
“These stakeholders will include, but are not limited to, members of EnAble Arts, Film New England North West, Aboriginal Culture Program, Country Arts Support Program, Country Art Escapes and our regular e-bulletin subscribers.
“Arts North West will make a letter available on its website that any affected stakeholders could use to contact the council should they wish.”
Arts North West, based in Glen Innes, supports the development of arts and culture regionally and is involved in the development of regional projects and initiatives.
The program was established in 1996 and then became an independent Regional Arts Board in 1997.
The program receives financial support from Arts New South Wales now 12 local governments in the New England North West region.
They assist groups, individuals and educational institutions with such services as grant writing workshops, funding application review, assistance with promotion and marketing of arts-based activities, regional arts advocacy, program development and fostering regional partnerships.
