2007 ANNUAL REPORT

Arts Council of the Dorrigo Inc

An excellent year culminated in six performances of a short opera, and began with the annual Creative Mountain Arts Exhibition. The sixth Dorrigo Folk & Bluegrass Festival enjoyed pleasant weather and was well attended.

These major events were each organized by sub-committees of the Arts Council, and the Visual Arts sub-committee looked after the Fine Arts section of the Dorrigo Show.

Other attractions during the year included fundraising concerts for the Festival, a special concert appearance by David Helfgott, and the Conservatorium Students' Tour.

Recognizing the assistance of volunteers, and contributions from other Dorrigo associations, our members can look back on 2007 with satisfaction.

With most activities delegated to sub-committees, the core group of the Arts Council who attend monthly meetings are mainly responsible for overview, reporting to members, and compliance with Fair Trading requirements.

Innovations by sub-committees which expose the Arts Council to risk are put to the monthly meeting for approval.

Concerns over insurance seem to be behind us. 2007 raised the issue of serving of alcohol at our events. The law is being stringently enforced. No more than one glass of wine per patron. A sign to say the wine is complimentary. And the glass must be handed over by someone with Responsible Serving of Alcohol certification. Failure to comply can lead to prosecution and a fine which could bankrupt us.

It is possible to get a permit to sell alcohol, but this is not our tradition.

Richard Holloway attended the opening night of the Easter Exhibition, to launch our Cultural Plan. Kathryn Wood attended our April meeting to explain the Artist in Residence project. Charlotte Blessing was guest at our June meeting, encouraging liaison with the Bellingen Community Arts Council of which she is Secretary.

Shirley Holt has served as our Secretary for four years, and is stepping down. Keenly sought is a member with basic computer skills, able to attend at 2pm on the second Tuesday each month to take minutes. Plenty of assistance and information is offered by past secretaries. Nominations will be accepted from the floor at the AGM in February 2008.

Our website is overdue for replacement. Is there a student out there who would like to polish their internet publishing skills? Assistance will be provided.

The Dorrigo Arts Council enjoys a growing reputation, and it is all thanks to our members. Through their creativity and effort, life on the Dorrigo Plateau is richer.

I wish all our members a wonderful 2008.

Al Hartley, President

ps membership subscriptions help the Arts Council to meet its overheads. Please renew. And thanks to those who pick up their copy of mailouts from the Library.