News
16 March, 2026
To fund or not to fund. That is the question.
Should Wingecarribee Shire Council continue to fund the Ngununggula Regional Gallery in Bowral?
Should Wingecarribee Shire Council continue to fund the Ngununggula Regional Gallery in Bowral?
That will be one of the big decisions up for discussion at Wednesday’s council meeting and one that will almost inevitably produce some robust debate.
Staff have recommended that council enters into a new funding agreement with Ngununggula for the five years from 2028 to 2033 and that it provides $500,000 per annum (with no CPI indexation) for the length of the agreement.
Council did not contribute towards the construction or capital development of the gallery in East Bowral but resolved at its meeting on November 11, 2020 to commit $500,000 per year in funding for the five years from 2020/21 to 2024/25.
At its meeting on April 17, 2024, council resolved to provide a further $1.5 million in funding – or $500,000 per annum for the 2025/26, 2026/27 and 2027/28 financial years.
The current funding arrangement will expire on June 30, 2028.
According to a staff report prepared for Wednesday’s meeting, regional galleries typically operate under one of two governance models.
The first is direct council ownership and operation, where the gallery functions as an internal council service and the full operational cost is absorbed within council’s budget.
The second is a partnership-based mode, where an independent not-for-profit organisation delivers programming – with financial support of council and external revenue sources.
Ngununggula operates under the partnership model.
“It is governed as an independent charitable organisation and council’s annual contribution forms part of a diversified revenue structure that includes State Government support, philanthropy, sponsorship, grants and earned income,” the staff report says.
It also includes approximately $30,000 a year from interest the gallery earns through the $1 million it has in the bank.
Staff say withdrawal of council funding would introduce “significant operational uncertainty” to the gallery moving forward and may affect the gallery’s ability to attract external funding.
They say cessation of funding would transfer “substantial risk” to the community.
“In economic terms, regional cultural infrastructure such as Ngununggula contributes multiplier effects to the economy through visitor expenditure, creative sector employment and activation of surrounding businesses,” the staff report says.
“In social terms, it supports education engagement, youth participation and community connection.
“These outcomes extend beyond the direct cost of the annual contribution and would not be replicated at equivalent scale through smaller program-based initiatives alone.”
Hundreds of people have commented on the issue on social media.
“Love the arts or not, council does not have the funds,” Raymond Khoury said.
“The gallery raised $0.5 million in just one evening. So it has its own capacity to generate large sums of money.
“Let us not forget. Council has no money – it is our money. Without our money there is no council.”
Others say it is a private business being propped up by council financially.
· Wednesday’s meeting will commence at 3.30pm.
Read More: Bowral, Southern Highlands