Despite being turned down for arts infrastructure funding in the current round, Merimbula’s Twyford Hall theatre project committee says that while it is disappointed it is not deterred.
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Twyford Hall applied for $7 million but was one of two major projects in the Bega Valley looking for money. The other, the Bega Valley Regional Art Gallery was also unsuccessful a bid to get money from the Regional Cultural Fund (RCF).
However Twyford Hall president Bill Deveril said they would work with the RCF team to strengthen the proposal for funding consideration next year after being told the application had “significant merit”.
It is believed that there were applications for over $100m in the first round of a four round program of $100m in total.
In news that offers encouragement to the Twyford Hall committee the News Weekly has been told the committee will be encouraged to work with the RCF team and will also be directed towards some other funds to assist in their future application.
Given the funding required for the two projects, about $12m, and the size of the fund for NSW - $25m in round one - it was always considered unlikely that both would be successful. It has been suggested to the News Weekly that having the two large projects both supported by council may have “muddied the waters”.
However Twyford Hall has strong backing from member for Bega Andrew Constance who said the project had his 100 per cent backing and support.
“This is the number one project in the Bega Valley for arts funding and is of the utmost priority, above and beyond any other brought forward by council,” Mr Constance said.
It would appear to be a clear message to council from Mr Constance regarding the regional art gallery. The gallery was the subject of public consultation on its future location even after the bid for funding had been entered. Council recently voted to keep it in Bega despite moves by council and gallery staff to see it relocated in Merimbula.
“We need to attract other money (for Twyford Hall) and we’re doing that. We’re finalising that and we’ve just got to keep at it,” Mr Constance said.
We knew we were competing with many other good projects around NSW for a limited amount of money in round one.
- Bill Deveril, president of Twyford Hall committee
Mr Deveril has thanked Mr Constance for his wholehearted support.
He also thanked also the mayor Kristy McBain, councillors and staff who facilitated the Twyford Hall bid. “Recently council and Twyford Hall have worked to make sure the right management arrangements are in place to progress the Theatre Twyford project. We will make sure that co-operation continues,” he said.
Mr Deveril said local community groups and businesses led by local identity Frankie J Holden, Spectrum Theatre, Bendigo Bank and others had provided generous support to get the project to this stage.
“When we secure funding for Theatre Twyford the expanded Twyford Hall Complex will be an even more valuable asset for the whole SE NSW arts and cultural scene and our community.”
Twyford Hall committees have worked toward building the 200 seat Theatre Twyford next to the heritage-listed Twyford Hall for more than 20 years.
Once completed the Twyford Hall complex will combine a professional standard regional scale theatre for music and live theatre and a community hall backed by new service facilities.
