Federal Member for Nicholls, Sam Birrell MP, has partnered with the Special Envoy for the Arts, Susan Templeman, to host a roundtable with local art organisations from across the electorate to discuss regional
arts and the new National Cultural Policy.

The roundtable hosted at the Shepparton Art Museum was an opportunity for Mr Birrell to highlight the
importance of regional arts and for the government to explain how the new policy will support local creative
organisations.

“I’ve always been interested and engaged in regional arts and as the Member for Nicholls, I’m determined to
ensure arts organisations and projects in Nicholls continue to be supported,” Mr Birrell said.

“As with all issues that affect our region, I’m determined to work across the aisle with the Government to get
better outcomes for our region.

“It was a great pleasure to bring Special Envoy for the Arts, Labor Member for Macquarie, Susan Templeman,
to the region to discuss the Government’s Cultural Policy ‘Revive’ and the possible benefits it could bring for
local arts organisations” he said.

Community galleries, Indigenous art organisations, theatre groups and festival organisations were among
those invited to the meeting and came from across the electorate for the roundtable.

“The arts drives growth for regional areas like Nicholls,” Mr Birrell said.

“It’s important regional residents have the opportunity to engage in art and it is important that funding bodies
understand that so much of the artistic and cultural offering in regional communities is delivered by the
community, for the community.

“We have countless creative organisations doing amazing things and they need to be supported to ensure they
have the ability to thrive,” he said.

Special Envoy for the Arts, Susan Templeman MP, thanked local groups for coming together to share the
challenges groups face in keeping the arts alive and well in the region.

“It’s clear that in Shepparton and the surrounding areas that community arts have a very important place in
the life of the region,” Special Envoy for the Arts, Susan Templeman said.

“I look forward to working with Sam Birrell MP in taking that message back to Canberra”.

“We want people to be able to tell their stories and to hear Australian stories right around the country” she said.