The Funding Landscape Has Changed
Why We’re Calling for New Committee Members — And Why With Such Urgency Now
You may have seen our recent social media posts calling for people with skills, creativity and strategic thinking to step into leadership roles at River of Art.
If you’re wondering why the urgency this year— here’s the transparent version of what’s happening, and why we feel it’s important to share this before the AGM begins.
Under normal circumstances, we’d form the new Committee first and then outline our priorities for the year ahead.
But this year is not normal.
This year needs honesty before action.
The State of Play
As is publicly announced on the Eurobodalla Shire Council website, River of Art was not awarded funding for the 2026–2028 period under the Community Grants and Donations Program.
River of Art has received support from Eurobodalla Shire Council over many years and was previously recognised as one of only two Hallmark Events in the Shire, a status we held for six years across two funding rounds in acknowledgement of our significant cultural and economic contribution.
In 2024 alone, the Festival contributed over $14 million in economic return for the region.
Since 2022 River of Art has consistently contributed approximately $10 million annually to the Eurobodalla economy.
(2024 Outcomes Report linked below)
The data speaks for itself.
But relying solely on economic metrics is an incomplete picture — and misses the deeper value of what the Festival brings to this region.
Our 2025 Outcomes Report will be ready for the AGM on 17 December.
The release has taken a little longer this year because data previously supplied by Council had to be sourced independently at our own expense – another indication of how budget cuts are impacting the way we operate.
Here’s What Economic Figures Don’t Show
They don’t show that River of Art does not have teams of paid analysts, consultants or administrative staff compiling data, building dashboards, or producing glossy brochures for funding bodies.
Every impact statement we create — every dataset, graph, map or economic summary — is the work of a small handful of volunteers juggling this organisation alongside jobs, families, creative practice and community life.
In many festivals, these tasks are undertaken by paid staff.
For River of Art, they’re done late at night, on weekends, on goodwill and determination.
And despite these realities, the Festival has proven its worth for 21 years, delivering measurable benefit year after year and helping shape the cultural identity of the Eurobodalla.
But the true value of River of Art goes well beyond the dollars.
THE ARTS:
- strengthen community identity and pride.
- draw visitors not just to spend, but to experience place.
- bring together people from different generations, cultures and communities.
- support mental wellbeing, creative expression and social connection.
- turn regional towns into cultural destinations.
- give artists visibility, income, voice and momentum.
These things matter. They matter deeply.
But they rarely fit neatly into a spreadsheet.
The Reality Behind the Festival
River of Art is — and always has been — grassroots at its core:
- 100% volunteer-run
- sustained by extraordinary community energy
- supported by local businesses who continue to give despite their own pressures
- operates within a regional landscape where Council and Government investment is declining
- powered by an ageing volunteer base, reflecting a national downward trend in formal volunteering
(Volunteering Australia reference)
The Committee is open to everyone — we warmly welcome younger members, families, early-career professionals, creatives and anyone who wants to contribute.
But we also recognise the reality: younger demographics often face barriers that make long-term volunteering more difficult, and this reduces the size of the volunteer pool we can draw from.
These barriers include:
- Housing insecurity and high living costs, making it difficult to commit unpaid time.
- Multiple job pressures or gig-economy work, leaving little capacity for consistent volunteering.
- Caring responsibilities for young children, often without extended family support nearby.
- Limited availability outside work hours, when much of our organisational work occurs.
- The cost of transport in a regional area, making regular participation challenging.
- The need for paid creative work, meaning artists often cannot volunteer in lieu of being compensated for their expertise.
- Digital fatigue and burnout, impacting willingness to take on administrative or ongoing responsibilities.
None of these are signs of a lack of interest — they are structural realities.
And they mean that the volunteer base for a festival of this scale is not just small; it is shrinking.
We remain proud of what we’ve built — and clear-eyed about what it now needs.
We Are at a Crossroads
River of Art has reached a pivotal moment.
The Festival cannot be carried by a few exhausted volunteers who have already given years — and who wear the battle scars of operating in a landscape that demands resilience, reinvention and relentless advocacy. Being “ready to embrace change” costs time, and it requires funding.
We’ve always had to chase financial support — Council is simply the latest in a long line of government funding bodies to decline support for 2026.
And yet, despite this, we have secured a solid financial position for 2026 (as will be detailed in the Treasurer’s Report at the 2025 AGM).
But here’s the truth: baseline funding keeps the lights on.
It’s additional support that enables growth, innovation, and genuine investment in artists — the people who are the beating heart of everything River of Art exists to celebrate.
Without this, evolution becomes harder.
The Festival cannot grow without strong leadership, new energy and new ideas.
And it cannot plan its next chapter without a committed, skilled Committee who understand how creative, economic and community outcomes must work together.
This is why we’re asking — truly asking:
Do you want to be part of the conversation?
Before we begin the AGM, we will hold a short, open address outlining the landscape so that everyone understands the responsibilities and opportunities facing the 2026 Committee.
The decisions ahead are significant:
These cannot be made by accident or by default.
They must be shaped by people who care.
If You Care About Arts, Culture and Community on the South Coast — This is Your Moment
We’re seeking people who bring:
• organisational and project skills
• marketing, fundraising or partnership experience
• strategic thinking
• community insight
• artistic practice
• a passion for building something that matters
You don’t need to be an artist.
You don’t need years of festival experience.
You just need commitment, clarity, and the desire to strengthen the cultural heartbeat of this region.
If you want to contribute to the conversation prior to the AGM — we also want to hear from you.
Please join us at 5pm on Wednesday 17 December at Moruya Golf Club, ahead of the AGM.
This short session is open to everyone and will outline the landscape, the opportunities, and the critical decisions ahead.
The 2026 Committee will determine River of Art’s next steps.
We hope you’ll join us — and help shape the future with us.