Artists and community members devastated by the shock announcement of an end to the Big West Festival have floated the idea of the board stepping down to make way for fresh blood.
An emergency ‘Save Big West’ meeting was held in Footscray on Wednesday night in response to the festival board’s decision, announced last week, to ‘retire’ the festival by the end of this year.
Those present at the meeting flagged the idea of pushing for a spill of board positions and the establishment of an interim board to seek a way through the crisis.
The board had initially accepted an invitation to explain its decision at the meeting, but pulled out shortly before it began, instead sending a short statement.
Hoang Tran Nguyen, Footscray artist, former board member and spokesman for new community group Save Big West, told the meeting there has been a groundswell of support for finding a way to keep the festival alive.
“The assertion that the closure of Big West makes space for other western suburbs organisations is unsubstantiated,” he said.
“We fear that just the opposite will occur, that artistic activity and vibrancy in the area will simply retract as a result of this decision.”
He said Save Big West understands the board would not have taken this decision lightly.
“However we feel that the board has failed in its primary obligation to enact the mission of the organisation, instead choosing to terminate the organisation without adequate community and stakeholder consultation.”
A statement from Big West Festival board chair Kirsty Allem, read out at the meeting, acknowledged that there is “deep affection for the festival”.
“We are grateful for the passion and commitment of those involved in Save Big West.
“The decision to retire the organisation was a difficult but necessary one made after careful consideration and with particular regard to our fiduciary duties to the organisation and to its communities.
“As discussed we look forward to hearing the outcome of tonight’s discussion and to understand how you would like to proceed from here.”
Maribyrnong councillor Grant Miles said Big West has been funded by the council for close to 20 years and future funding was to be voted upon at next Tuesday night’s council meeting.
“There is no absolutely no reason whatsoever to believe that there would have been any change to the funding,” he said.
“It came as a shock as much to the council as it did to the public and everyone else.
“I think these people are custodians of the festival, they’re not the owners and I wonder whether they really do have the right to just close the festival without consultation.”
He said Big West received the highest amount of funding of any local festival and other local organisations would “give their right arm for that sort of money”.
“To say that there are now other organisations to fill the void, that’s about the festival evolving and adapting and finding a new space to fill.
“It doesn’t mean that you throw your hands in the air and say it’s all too hard and just pack up and go.”
Seddon sound artist Tamara Saulwick said once Save Big West gains a better understanding of the Board’s decision and is in a position to accurately assess the situation, one way forward may be for the five current board members to step down and a new interim board to be formed.
Save Big West are hoping to meet with the board early next week.
The board has been contacted for comment.
