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Wangaratta Chronicle 230823

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www.wangarattachronicle.com.au

Wednesday, August 23, 2023

TRUMPETING THE END OF WANGARATTA’S BIGGEST ANNUAL EVENT FOR THE PAST 30 YEARS

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ONE LAST TIME: THANDO PERFORMS WITH HORNS OF LEROY DURING THE 2022 WANGARATTA FESTIVAL OF JAZZ AND BLUES. THIS YEAR’S FESTIVAL WILL BE THE LAST IN ITS CURRENT FORMAT. PHOTO: MARC BONGERS

Jazz festival final hurrah

THIS year’s Wangaratta Festival of Jazz and Blues looks set to be the last. After more than 30 years of the event being staged in the rural city, its current volunteer board has made the decision to wind up operations after it presents a final, reduced event in November. The festival returned to a live format last year, after two years of COVID-enforced online iterations and a cancelled event in 2019, and organisers say it returned a positive balance sheet in 2022. However, ongoing financial

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constraints, a shifting and uncertain outlook for music festivals generally in Australia, and diminished resources for the board and its volunteer base have been cited as key reasons for the “prudent” call to stage a ‘Last Hurrah’ for the current format. Festival chair Dave Fuller said the board had investigated many options

to keep the festival alive, including switching to a biennial staging, creating partnerships, and through discussions with key stakeholders. “This work has been ongoing since the 2022 festival,” he said. “The board has recently taken a unanimous and fiscally responsible decision to present a final event in 2023 and not seek further funding for the festival, as is required for its ongoing viability. “After many years of terrific support from government bodies such as Creative Victoria and the

Australia Council for the Arts, their funding pool is equally reduced and competitive. “Corporate and philanthropic opportunities will be considered this year in an effort to ensure a fitting send off for the festival.” Mr Fuller said a major co-sponsor was being sought for a planned outdoor CBD blues space on the Saturday of this year’s festival, and there would also be an opportunity for locals to support the final event through community and corporate ‘friends’ packages. ■ Continued page 2

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