After struggling for a few years to hold a fine tradition in Tamworth’s cultural history together, eisteddfod executives have signaled the next annual extravaganza might have to downsize.
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The sour note comes as Tamworth Eisteddfod president Chris Jackson admits a couple of categories face the threat of being dropped from the program altogether for the May-June calendar next year.
The latest threats follow a number of issues over the past couple of years concerning sponsorships, rising costs of putting the eisteddfod on, lack of syllabus coordinators and volunteers to help run the event, as well as declining interest from both competitors, groups and even school entrants.
However, despite the issues the show has gone on, albeit in some contracted ways in some categories.
Dance was dropped for a while but has since returned. Now other sections are threatened.
And the next event faces even more serious challenges, according to Mr Jackson.
“The Tamworth Eisteddfod has been a driving force in cultural performance in Tamworth and the region for 67 years,” he said.
“Thanks to the dedication of many teachers over the years, performing before an audience and an adjudicator in the Tamworth Town Hall has been an exciting and fulfilling experience for thousands of students.
“Regrettably, for this coming year, the eisteddfod may have to downsize. The committee has been unable to find a co-ordinator for the music section in 2015 and it will probably have to remove this section from the program. This will affect music students, including HSC students, school choirs and singing groups.
“There is still an opportunity for these sections to occur if the eisteddfod committee can locate a new co-ordinator for music by November 18.
“The eisteddfod committee is looking for someone with experience in music, either a retired teacher or someone from the conservatorium perhaps, to run the 2015 program.
And because of limited entries this year, the schools choral speech category might be dropped.
Mr Jackson said schools had been informed that if they wanted their students to experience the choral speech categories, they needed to flag their interest by November 18.
“It would be a great shame to lose these two sections from the eisteddfod in 2015,” he said.
“The committee works tirelessly to give students the opportunity to celebrate the success of their talents. They want to keep the eisteddfod tradition alive in our community”.
The eisteddfod committee has appealed for new members in the hope they will bring new ideas and energies to the cultural table.
“It is a very rewarding opportunity to be part of the development of young people’s skills and confidence,” Mr Jackson said.
He has asked for interested people for the music co-ordinator’s role to contact him.
Mr Jackson said decisions on the syllabus and programs would be made before the end of the year because the eisteddfod programs had to be produced and circulated for the new school year.
Inquiries should be emailed to Chris Jackson on Chris.Jackson@det.nsw.edu.au after 9 November but no later than the end of November.
