At last night’s meeting, it was agreed that funding continue for the Two Rivers Arts Council which will receive $12,000, the Conservatorium of Music is set to benefit from $5000 while the Gunnedah Shire Band will renew an agreement which provides for $5000 in donations and $5000 for the maintenance of the Band Hall. 

“Each of those groups do a lot in the community and every little bit helps,” General Manager Eric Groth said.

The Two Rivers Arts Council funding will go towards the purpose of co-ordinating arts and cultural programs. The group is a community-based incorporated body that consists of four subgroups including Visual Arts Working Group, FilmTRAC, Monthly Markets and Gunnedah Drama Group.

The Gunnedah Shire Band will enter into a five-year agreement with council where almost $5000 will be provided in donations and $5000 in maintenance for the Band Hall. Any money not spent on the hall will go into a trust account for the band. 

“It’s good news,” Bandmaster Laurence Rowe said. 

“We spend a lot of our time fund-raising. Our major income, apart from this grant, is catering at the band hall. We very much rely on this assistance to carry out our activities so we’re very pleased it’s been re-instated.”

The Conservatorium of Music’s grant will assist with moving costs to the Town Hall and various programs. 

Gunnedah Shire Council approved plans for the group to relocate to the heritage listed building at a discounted lease rate. Space will be made available upstairs and downstairs. 

“It’s really about space,” Conservatorium Executive Officer Rebecca Ryan said.

“Currently we have three individual teaching spaces for tuition but for the last two years we’ve been using other spaces as well, including the Town Hall.”

The grant will also give the conservatorium more scope, including being able to teach diverse instruments using videoconferencing. It has 250 students on the books with the group noticing “constant growth.”