A new Chairperson was elected to the role at the Western Riverina Arts annual general meeting on friday 27 March. Marg Couch, community representative for Griffith, replaced Julie Briggs, community representative for Narrandera.
"It is with great pride that I accept the position of Chair of Western Riverina Arts," said Ms Couch. "As community member on this board for the past four years I have been fortunate to learn from a fine leader in Julie Briggs who will continue to be seated very closely as we transition and grow in the years ahead. Under Julie’s leadership Western Riverina Arts has maintained a solid foundation for the incoming board to continue the work of connecting creative communities across the Local Government Areas of Griffith Leeton and Narrandera."
Ms Couch enthused about the role of Western Riverina Arts in the region. "Building strong vibrant communities requires a diverse range of arts and cultural services and programs that regularly connect the community," she said. "Our programs enable Western Riverina communities to build strong leadership through skill development on many levels and the capability to creatively enhance the livability of our rural towns. This practice builds, not only resilient communities, but thriving communities with strong creative programs that actively and frequently engage all community sectors."
"Understanding the potential of the arts to contribute to local priorities is also an important role of Western Riverina Arts. Experimenting with new ideas, challenging audiences and experiencing new ways of working are all central to this purpose. Supporting and including our local and visiting artists in the broader community encourages us to see new ways of being."
Regional Arts Development Officer Derek Motion thanks Ms Briggs for her continued contributons to the board and welcomed Ms Couch to the board. "We look forward to building on the achievements of the past four years as we continue to strategically build stronger relationships and partnerships with other community service and government organisations and in doing so ensure sustainable delivery of arts and creative industries programs and services to the Western Riverina region."