Mornington Peninsula Shire | STPL News | Peninsula Local | Somerville Times I RPP FM
The Mornington Peninsula’s arts and performing arts community is rallying in response to proposed changes to council funding, ahead of a key meeting on Monday 20 May.
Concerns are growing that a revised community support funding model may put the long-term viability of local arts initiatives at risk. At last week’s fiery Mornington Peninsula Shire Council meeting, Deputy Mayor Paul Pingiaro introduced the proposed model, which he said was shaped by extensive community consultation. According to Cr Pingiaro, the aim is to improve equity in funding and ensure better value for ratepayers.
However, some members of the local arts sector fear the proposed redistribution could mean fewer resources for the creative industries, many of which rely heavily on council backing.
Sally Baillieu of Barnacle Studios in Rosebud, speaking on RPP FM, said she has serious concerns about how the changes have been developed and communicated.
“Why is this methodology adopted so frequently by the council where they just drop things in people’s laps and give them no time to think about it?” she said.
“They’re always talking about communicating with a public consultation, and there’s very little show of that.”
In an earlier interview, RPP FM spoke with Barnacle Studios Director Max Johnson who said the arts community have been ambushed by the Shire’s new funding system.
Paul Mercurio MP the member for Hastings has also voiced his concerns calling for the council to reconsider in a statement he published last week.
Local arts groups are now working together to prepare a coordinated response ahead of the 20 May council meeting, where the funding model will be further discussed.
However Cr Cam Williams has defended the Shire’s new merit-based grant system during an interview with STPL News last week.
A number of organisations are expected to make submissions or speak during public question time, calling for more transparency and assurances that arts and culture funding will not be diminished.
The Mornington Peninsula Shire has not yet released detailed breakdowns of how individual organisations or programs might be impacted under the proposed model.
