Inverell Shire Council withdrew from the Glen Innes based Arts North West in 2013 because councillors of the day deemed its membership fees a waste of money for the services received. It remained a contentious issue for years. Council decided to rejoin the fold in June 2018, and now, after a tentative toe in the water, has renewed Arts North West funding for three years instead of a recommended one year.
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... we need to show some commitment to Arts North West ...
- Mayor Paul Harmon
An increased commitment to membership was adopted by council to secure future touring performances and other Arts North West cultural opportunities, but was conditional on Inverell Shire Council having an elected member on the Arts North West Advisory Board.
Mayor Paul Harmon said council was coming to the end of its first year of its returned membership, and was starting to see some shows and performances coming into the Shire.
"I have some sympathy for the fact that some of the big shows are being planned two or three years in advance for the touring schedule," he said.
"So, we need to show some commitment to Arts North West and say that we're going to have continued, ongoing membership so we can attract those large scale performances."
As one of the prime movers in council's decision to rejoin Arts North West, Cr Kate Dight was no doubt a good fit for the position on advisory board; but what exactly is the advisory board?
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Originally, it was most of the 16 left-over members of the organisation's discarded board, those representatives from community arts organisations and the very local government areas serviced.
Art North West adopted a new, skills-based board at their annual general meeting on May 11 last year. A brand new, leaner, nine member board, rich with expertise in law, finance, governance, regional development, and, oh yes, the arts.
"The best practice for not-for-profit organisations is to have a skills-based board," executive director Caroline Downer said at the time.
"You want people who have the skills to strategically drive the organisation.
"In our new structure, we also feel it's very important to keep that partnership with local government very strong."
So, obviously the advisory board is there to advise the strategically driven board.
Cr Harmon said he had every faith Cr Dight would represent council well.
"She is a real powerhouse. It's her first term as a Councillor and she has hit the ground running. She is very passionate about the arts." he said.
"She is a member of the Cultural Committee and also on the Art Gallery Board, so I am very confident that she will voice and hold council's view as a committee member."
