[ad_1]
The Christchurch Arts Centre has been given a financial lifeline despite doubts expressed by some city councillors about its long-term viability.
The two parties decided that Christchurch City Council would provide $1.5 million in funding for the historic attraction over the next two years, and a further $500,000 per year over the next eight years.
In addition, the city council will allocate $220,000 from its community fund over the next two years.
Growing concerns about the future of the cash-strapped centre have led the arts centre’s Te Matatiki Toi Ora Trust to ask council for $1.8 million a year to keep it viable.
Funding was secured as elected councillors held final negotiations on the council’s Long Term Plan (LTP) on Tuesday, which included a proposed average rate rise of 9.95 per cent.
The plan is due to be formally adopted on Thursday.
Waimairi ward councillor Sam MacDonald hoped the huge amount of money the centre was about to receive would give them “breathing space to get things done”.
“I implore the trustees to look at their organizational structure,” he said.
“They are a very capable group of people and I think they should take the lead.
“It’s in the interest of Christchurch if they get this right.”
MacDonald further questioned whether the trust fully appreciated the economic situation it found itself in.
“While we have signs saying ‘Save the Arts Centre’, I would have liked to see some signs saying ‘Thank you’ to Christchurch taxpayers because you saved the Arts Centre.
“It is now incumbent on the trustees to work with the management of the organisation to put in place some effective and long-term measures, because there are none at the moment.
“I don’t think they’re at the point where they’re ready to take on the challenge, but I think they need to.”
Burwood councillor Kelly Barber also described the centre’s funding application as “like putting a tank in a cup of tea.
“If they had taken a different approach, the results would have probably been a piece of cake,” he said.
The city council also approved more than $500,000 a year for the next three years for Christchurch wildlife attraction Orana Park.
Like the Arts Centre, its continued financial stability has been questioned.
[ad_2]
Source link
