Arts Organisations Announce Merger
15 December 2015 at 9:00 am
?Two independent Not for Profit community arts organisations will merge in the New Year in a move they say will improve efficiency and provide joint programs to the sector.
The two organisations, Creating Australia (CA) and the Cultural Development Network (CDN) will join forces early next year after the signing of a Deed of Merger.
In a statement, both organisations said they would continue to operate but under a joint board and with a shared office ?located in Melbourne.
CA Executive Chairman, Sue?Anne Wallace, said the merger would enable CA to continue to realise its vision by reducing running costs, developing new philanthropic partnerships and delivering programs with CDN.
“It is an exciting partnership which will enhance the work of CDN with the local government sector and CA’s work with community artists and arts practitioners,” Wallace said.
“Creating Australia has developed a national network for CACD [community arts and cultural development] artists and arts practitioners, including linking major performing arts organisations with artists in communities.”
Creating Australia was established in 2013 as a cross?sector organisation for the Australian community arts and cultural development (CACD) sector, providing communication, collaboration and national discussions on CACD practice and advocacy.
It will close its Sydney office at the end of January 2016 and relocate to CDN’s Melbourne premises.
Creating Australia Deputy Chair Lindy Allen will join the CDN Board, which will provide governance for Creating Australia.
Both parties said they envisaged the merger would create new opportunities for artists, particularly in regional locations to work within a local government context to demonstrate the value of culturally rich communities.
“In developing plans for the merge, CA and CDN have focussed on their shared goals of building the evidence base for the impacts of cultural practice, in partnership with the philanthropic and local government sectors,” Chair of CDN Paul Holton said.
