THE ARTS COUNCIL OF THE DORRIGO INC

THE ARTS COUNCIL OF THE DORRIGO INC.

PROGRESS REPORT

CREATIVE MOUNTAIN ARTS EXHIBITION SUB-COMMITTEE – 2008

The CREATIVE MOUNTAIN ARTS EXHIBITION is an exhibition held in Dorrigo at Easter time each year. The Exhibition is organised and run by sub-committee of the Arts Council. Due recognition is given to the fact that the Exhibition is presented under the auspices of the Arts Council in all publicity and promotional material.

The 2007 Exhibition was very successful with over 1700 people attending over the 10 day period. In addition, there was a wide variety of creative art exhibited by both professional and amateur artists and school students. A financial surplus of about $1,300was achieved for the 2007 Exhibition. Augmented by other funds in the bank account, $665 was distributed to each of the Visual Arts Group, the Plateau Fibre Group and The Arts Council.

During the review of the 2007 Exhibition, as part of the initial planning for the 2008 Exhibition, it was recognised by the Creative Mountain Arts sub-committee that the Exhibition was being organised on a "shoe string" budget and there were a number of improvements that could be made to raise the profile of the Exhibition. Currently, there are an increasing number of Exhibitions being held in Coffs Harbour, Bellingen and other close by locations over the Easter period which are competing with the Dorrigo exhibition. It was generally agreed that the Exhibition was an important annual event of the Arts Council which should be reflected in the way it was promoted and organised. The prime objective is to hold a high profile Exhibition to showcase the creative arts emanating from the Dorrigo Plateau that will attract both local people and visitors to the area over the Easter period. This means the Exhibition has to be adequately promoted with good quality publicity material, the art works professionally displayed and the Exhibition generally of a sufficiently high quality to attract recognised professional artists in the area as well as providing a venue for amateur and student artists. A successful Exhibition will also be financially successful allowing surplus funds to be used by the Arts Council in adequately funding its other activities.

To be able to achieve the objectives outlined above, the following initiatives have been undertaken by the Creative Mountain Arts sub-committee:

Sponsorship: - Approaches have been made to local businesses and supporters of the arts in Dorrigo to provide sufficient funds to underwrite the promotion expenses and other overhead expenses of the 2008 Exhibition. To date, cash sponsorships totalling $1,250 have been received and a number of in-kind donations have also been received.

Promotion: - The participation of sponsors has allowed the sub-committee to have printed high quality posters and flyers promoting the Exhibition, upgrade the hardware and display materials, and plan for an exciting Opening Night Cocktail party and Official Preview on Wednesday 19^th March at 7.30pm.

Prizes: - Through the receipt of sponsorship funds, the sub-committee has proposed to increase the cash prizes to the high school students. The final amount and break-up of prizes will be dependent on the number of entries received. The sub-committee is hopeful these increased prizes will promote the participation of school students in the Exhibition and attract more visitors.

Guest Exhibitors: - The sub-committee is planning to invite one or more guest exhibitors who are professional artists living locally or in the region. A recognised high profile artist and teacher in the Chinese Brush Painting style has agreed to conduct demonstrations over the Easter holidays at the Exhibition which will be an exciting attraction on those days.

Raffle: - The sub-committee has secured a handsome and unusual work of art from a local professional artist as first prize for the raffle and a number of attractive other prizes.

Articles in the Don Dorrigo Gazette: - Articles have been published in the Gazette every few weeks promoting awareness of the Exhibition and building excitement and anticipation for the event as well as encouraging participation by artists.

The Exhibition is held in the Dorrigo Community Centre which is owned by the Bellingen Shire Council and managed by a local Trust. The Council has declined to provide any assistance towards alleviating the rental cost of the hall to the Exhibition. In fact, it should be noted the Council has declined to provide any financial assistance whatsoever towards holding the 2008 Creative Mountain Arts Exhibition on the basis they have no funds available for such purpose.

An incredible amount of voluntary time has already been spent by Carol Deane and the Creative Mountain Arts sub- committee in organising the 2008 Exhibition. Much still needs to be done to ensure the 2008 Creative Mountain Arts Exhibition is an outstanding success. The full support of the Arts Council of the Dorrigo Inc. is invaluable, greatly appreciated and necessary for the efficient organisation and running of the Exhibition.

The running of the Exhibition involves a considerable number of financial transactions including: the receipt of sponsorship monies, entry fees, payment of promotion expenses, advertising, hall rental and other overhead expenses, payment of prizes, Cocktail Party catering expenses, collection and banking of raffle proceeds, collection and banking of entrance donations, etc. The sub-committee will be responsible for the proper accounting and record keeping of the Exhibition and will provide a detailed report to the Committee of the Arts Council at the conclusion of the 2008 Exhibition. It is the view of the sub-committee that it should also be responsible for the maintenance of the existing bank account for the Exhibition to streamline the payment and receipt of funds. With this in mind, it will be proposed to the Committee of the Arts Council at the AGM to be held in February 2008 that two members of the sub-committee be cheque signatories to the bank account used for the Creative Mountain Arts Exhibition and that bank statements for that account be available to those members. This proposal, if adopted will add two additional bank signatories to the account and minimise effort in the banking transactions relating to the Exhibition.

Creative Mountain Arts Exhibition – Sub-committee

8 February 2008