Regional Arts NSW - The peak body for regional arts activity in New South Wales

Media Release

Regional councils shine in Local Government Cultural Awards

8 May 2007

L-R: Cr Chris Kowal, Eurobodalla Shire Council; Elizabeth Rogers, CEO Regional Arts NSW and Cr Bruce Miller, Vice President, Shires AssociationREGIONAL AND RURAL NSW Councils and Shires have scooped the pool at the 2007 Local Government Cultural Awards, taking out nine of the fifteen awards at a ceremony at Parliament House on Friday night.

Broken Hill, Griffith, Moree Plains, Kempsey, Coonamble, Bathurst, Gosford, Dubbo and Eurobodalla Councils all won awards for a range of projects including Aboriginal cultural development, library and information services and festivals as well as awards for outstanding new cultural centres and cultural plans.

"Regional and rural Councils deliver some of the best arts and cultral development projects in the State and it is great to see some of this work acknowledged at these awards," Elizabeth Rogers, CEO of Regional Arts NSW said.

"Regional Arts NSW congratulates all the winners for the extraordinary commitment they demonstrate to the place of arts and culture in regional and rural community life," Ms Rogers said. "Without the substantial support of local government for these and many other cultural activities across the state, regional towns and country areas would be much poorer places to live."

Winners of the Local Government Cultural Awards were announced at NSW Parliament House in front of a 250 strong crowd including the Minister for Local Government, Paul Lynch, the Presidents of the Local Government and Shires Associations of NSW, leaders from the arts and entertainment industry, councils and government.

45 councils, including 26 regional councils, together with communities in NSW, were in the running for awards.

"It was great to see councils getting acknowledged for the significant effort they put into culture and the arts within their communities - the calibre of nominations was outstanding," Minister for Local Government, Paul Lynch said.

A full list of the nominated projects, with summaries and photographs, is available on a new website - www.culturalawards2007.lgsa-plus.net - which was launched during proceedings.

Contact
Rachael Vincent, Communications Manager Tel 02 9270 2504
Elizabeth Rogers, CEO, Tel 02 9270 2505

Picture: Cr Chris Kowal accepts the Developing Culture - Cultural Policy and Planning Award on behalf of Eurobodalla Shire Council, for the Eurobodalla Shire Council Cultural Plan from Elizabeth Rogers, CEO of Regional Arts NSW and Cr Bruce Miller, Vice President of the Shires Association of NSW. Photo: Event Pix