THE future of Mount Gambier’s Fringe Festival is assured following the State Government’s announcement it will commit $10,000 in funding towards the event for the next three years.
Premier Steven Marshall’s office confirmed the three year funding deal would be provided to Country Arts SA to help Mount Gambier City Council produce the event.
In announcing the additional funding, Premier Marshall threw his support behind the festival, labelling it as an “outstanding” arts event the South East community has embraced.
Mr Marshall commended council’s work on the festival, which this year saw over 12,000 people attend a week-long calendar of events, as “brilliant.”
“I also want to acknowledge the Member for Mount Gambier Troy Bell who has been a strong supporter of the Mount Gambier Fringe and he has made a strong case for this extra funding to be provided to ensure the event’s ongoing success,” he said.
“It is excellent to see high quality arts and cultural experiences are on offer to people in the regions.”
Mr Bell said the ongoing funding was a great win for both the festival and the community and provided organisers with financial surety and confidence.
Earlier this year, a council report indicated Country Arts SA was unable to confirm cash funding until its budget was finalised.
The report cited the absence of a financial and in-kind contribution would place significant pressure on the festival’s budget and the committee’s capacity to secure headline acts.
The independent MP said he had wrote to the Premier, who is also the Arts Minister, personally on the matter and raised the issue of funding several times in State Parliament in recent weeks, most recently this week.
“Fringe is an event which brings the city alive with music, comedy and performance art and brings a buzz to the streets of Mount Gambier each year,” he said.
“It not only brings a diverse range of performers to our city but showcases our thriving regional arts scene.
“I would like to congratulate the Premier, who is also the Minister for Arts, for throwing his support behind Mount Gambier’s Fringe Festival.”
Mr Bell encouraged community members within Limestone Coast region to get behind the 2019 event.
“Whether you are a business, an artist or just someone with an idea or concept for an event, there are so many ways to get involved,” he said.
“Throw your support behind our regional arts scene and make Mount Gambier’s Fringe Festival a success for 2019 and into the future.”
The South Australian Tourism Commission is also providing $10,000 towards marketing of the 2019 Fringe Festival in Mount Gambier through the 2018-19 Regional Events and Festivals Program.
“The State Government is committed to growing our regional visitor economy and the overall arts sector in South Australia and this support for the Mount Gambier Fringe will make it even bigger and better in the years to come,” Premier Marshall
said.
“I encourage everyone down in Mount Gambier to keep embracing the event by buying up tickets to the Fringe, with 2019 promising to be the best Mount Gambier Fringe yet.”
Mount Gambier City Council general manager community wellbeing Barb Cernovskis welcomed the announcement.
“We would like to thank our local member Troy Bell MP for his strong support for the Fringe in Mount Gambier Festival and the Premier Steven Marshall for his funding announcement investing in the arts and cultural development of our city,” she said.
