SPONSORS and the general community have vented their frustration with Dubbo City Council, following its decision not to contribute any funding to the Dream Festival beyond this year, putting its future on the chopping block.
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The council, who has contributed $140,000 to the event since its launch in 2011, and has outlined another $40,000 to the event this year, have confirmed no funding is allocated beyond this year’s festival.
Dream Festival vice chairman Anne Field confirmed she had been contacted by several sponsors and supporters of the festival, and they shared her outrage and disappointment with council’s decision.
“A lot of the sponsors are disappointed and find it strange that the council isn’t behind it and committing to the event like they are,” Ms Field said. “We are aware of other councils throughout NSW who donate much more money to events like this and even have staff members that run those festivals.
“The fact this festival is run by volunteers, who use annual leave and weekends to organise the event, and the council is completely withdrawing its support is greatly disappointing.”
Without council’s funding, Ms Field acknowledged it would be virtually impossible for the Dream Festival to continue.
“It would be very difficult,” Ms Field said.
“We might be able to tread water for a year or two but the event wouldn’t grow and I wonder what the point is seeing as council has completely withdrawn from it.
“There is a perception out there that Dubbo doesn’t have a cultural identity as all the other major centres do and that is what Dream is all about.
“Without events like this, it is harder to attract people to the city either as a visitor or to live here.”
The council was contacted for comment, but did not respond before deadline.