The Conservatorium Mid North Coast (CMNC) may not be able to open its doors in 2017 to thousands of students due to a lack of funding from the Department of Education.
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The CMNC is a non profit organisation dedicated to music education for the students and residents of the Mid North Coast.
It is part of a network of 18 regional Conservatoriums supported by the NSW Department of Education.
Board member Brian Corrigan said the department has failed to provide payment to the CMNC for the second half of 2016, an amount which he said exceeds $160,000.
He said the CMNC, students and tutors have been left in limbo and the organisation has been unable to effectively plan for future programs in 2017 and beyond.
Mr Corrigan said on December 23, 2016 the department told the organisation they were not going to pay and wanted to negotiate any future funding.
“They seem to be holding back on the 2016 funding, until they come to a decision on any future finance,” he said.
The organisation has its main campus located in Port Macquarie and as of December 2016 served in excess of 1000 students, including over 450 school students.
Mr Corrigan said for the last six months the operations of the CMNC have been covered by reserves, including fundraising concerts and barbecues.
The CMNC members said they believe 17 regional conservatoriums received funding on November 30, 2016.
“It would appear that the department considers school students and residents located in regional areas such as Dubbo, Orange, Lithgow, Bathurst, Lismore, Grafton, Tamworth and Coffs Harbour to be more deserving than those on the Mid North Coast,” Mr Corrigan said.
A Department of Education spokesperson said that it is is very supportive of a Conservatorium on the Mid North Coast.
“It needs to ensure that organisations receiving government funding have good governance and transparent operating practices to ensure full community access and engagement,” he said.
The department spokesperson said it wants to ensure that all people on the Mid North Coast including Taree, Port Macquarie and Great Lakes have the opportunity to become members of the CMNC and the capacity to apply to be on the Board.
“This will ensure that the CMNC is a professional Conservatorium that meets the needs of the Mid North Coast, delivering quality music education,” he said.
The department is currently negotiating funding, terms and conditions with the CMNC Board.
The spokesperson said the board has advised the department that they are currently in caretaker mode until a new board is elected.
He said the CMNC indicated to the department in December 2016 that no business can be conducted until this is the case.
The spokesperson said the department is awaiting advice from CMNC.
