News

Two new RABs get local government, community go-ahead

21 November 2002

The establishment of two new Regional Arts Boards (RABs) in the Central Orana and Far North Coast regions has received strong endorsement by local government and community groups following extensive consultations conducted by Regional Arts NSW, the NSW Ministry for the Arts and Lgov NSW in the two regions over the past two weeks.

The consultation process involved meetings with all sixteen prospective contributing councils in the two regions, and two well attended community discussion evenings in Dubbo and Lismore. As a result, two RAB Steering Committees have now been established, comprised of six representatives from the Central Orana and nine from the Far North Coast, who will work with Regional Arts NSW over the next two months to shape the new Regional Arts Development Officer (RADO) position descriptions and determine the most effective location for their operations.

Confirmation of each local government's contribution to the programs is expected by the end of this year, with recruitment for the new positions taking place next March. The establishment of formal Regional Arts Boards, incorporating community and arts representatives as well as local government members, will follow after that.

Regional Arts NSW was delighted to discover high levels of understanding and recognition of the value of Regional Arts Boards and Regional Arts Development Officers amongst local government and community representatives in both of the new regions.

"The atmosphere at the meetings was engaged, with some lively debate and passionate discussion but most of all, a strong endorsement for the new programs from the community meetings. Everybody seemed to recognise the benefits that a RAB would bring to their region," said Victoria Keighery, Chief Executive Officer of Regional Arts NSW.

"Regional communities want Regional Arts Boards because of the potential they offer to develop long-term community capacity building," said Victoria Keighery. "RADOs assist local organisations and groups to build their own capacity to access funding and resources; to plan; to collaborate with other organisations; to build their skills and to generate long term sustainable outcomes. Of course they also often generate substantial income for cultural development in their regions from other sources."

The two new Regional Arts Boards in Central Orana and the Far North Coast will take to thirteen the number of RABs and RADOs in New South Wales, filling the last two gaps in the Regional Arts NSW network across the state.