The future funding of the Conservatorium Mid North Coast remains clouded after the NSW department of education confirmed the community organisation had not met key markers.
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Conservatoriums are required to be full members of the overarching association of NSW regional conservatoriums as part of the funding process.
The department of education says CMNC's eligibility for funding ceased when it did not become a full member of that association.
"The NSW Department of Education is committed to exploring new community music education options for the Mid North Coast following the end of funding to the organisers of the Conservatorium Mid North Coast (CMNC)," a department spokesperson said.
"To be eligible for funding through the regional conservatorium grants program, organisers must meet certain criteria and become members of the association of NSW regional conservatoriums.
"The association of NSW regional conservatoriums advised the department that the CMNC had not met its criteria and was no longer a member.
"The CMNC was therefore ineligible for funding through the grants program, and in May 2018, the department and CMNC ended the existing funding agreement.”
CMNC has experienced a chequered history with the department, including a long-running battle for ongoing funding.
CMNC chair Brian Corrigan says the funding issue was successfully resolved from Semester 2, 2016,
He confirmed the organisation has sufficient funding to continue operations and service delivery through to the end of 2018. "This includes some exciting developments we are hoping to announce as the year progresses,” he said.
The CMNC was therefore ineligible for funding through the grants program, and in May 2018, the department and CMNC ended the existing funding agreement.
- Department of education
"Future funding of CMNC into 2019 and beyond, like all regional conservatoriums, is contingent upon application, assessment and approval of a funding application for the upcoming 2019-2021 funding period."
The department says CMNC became part of the Regional Conservatorium Grants Program on July 1 2016 as an associate member of the Association of Regional Conservatoriums.
In order to meet RCGP guidelines for funding, the department requested that CMNC attain full ANSWRC membership by July 27, 2017.
The ANSWRC advised the department that at a special general meeting held on November 14, 2017, the membership voted to uphold the committee’s decision to expel CMNC from membership to the ANSWRC.
The CMNC’s eligibility for funding ceased at that point, the department says.
The RCGP is a supplementary funding source for the regional conservatoriums, which are required to be financially viable and have sustainable funding sources and practices.
Grants are made on the understanding that the money will not cover the full operating costs of regional conservatoriums.
The RCGP aims to offer a wide range of music education, training, performance and engagement opportunities for schools, students, teachers and community members in regional, rural and remote areas by catering for learners, performers and audiences of all ages, interests and abilities.
The RCGP guidelines are on the website https://conservatoriums.schools.nsw.gov.au/
One of the requirements for RCGP funding is that applicants must be working towards membership or be a member of the Association of NSW Regional Conservatoriums.
Requirements around membership of the Association of NSW Regional Conservatoriums can be found at http://www.regionalconsnsw.org.au/