Federal Member for Nicholls Sam Birrell recently joined forces with Special Envoy for the Arts Susan Templeman to organise a roundtable discussion involving local art organisations from across the electorate.
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The primary focus of the meeting was to delve into regional arts and shed light on the new National Cultural Policy.
The discussion was held at the Shepparton Art Museum, and Mr Birrell said it presented an excellent opportunity to emphasise the significance of regional arts while allowing the government to outline how the new policy would provide support to local creative organisations.
“I’ve always been interested and engaged in regional arts, and as the Member for Nicholls, I’m determined to ensure arts organisations and projects in Nicholls continue to be supported,” Mr Birrell said.
The event welcomed a diverse range of participants from community galleries, Indigenous art organisations, theatre groups and festival organisations across the electorate.
This inclusive gathering aimed to foster discussion and explore the potential benefits of the government’s cultural policy ‘Revive’ for local arts organisations.
“The arts drive growth for regional areas like Nicholls,” Mr Birrell said, underscoring the importance of providing regional residents with opportunities to engage with art.
He emphasised the need for funding bodies to recognise that much of the artistic and cultural offerings in regional communities were created and delivered by the community itself.
“It’s clear that in Shepparton and the surrounding areas that community arts have a very important place in the life of the region,” Ms Templeman said.
“I look forward to working with Sam Birrell in taking that message back to Canberra, we want people to be able to tell their stories and to hear Australian stories right around the country.”