TAMWORTH Regional Council has the numbers to prove it's a performing arts town as the mission for funding takes a crucial step.
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The council recently voted to put its business case for a new performing arts precinct on Peel Street on public exhibition.
Glenn Inglis chairs the council's arts committee and he said the numbers are there to warrant the $128.2 million project.
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He said Tamworth folks attend live performances at a higher rate than the national and state averages.
"We currently have a three-year average for venue utilisation of 79 per cent," Cr Inglis said.
"That is extremely high.
"Australia wide that is only 58 per cent, NSW 52 per cent.
"There is a performing arts loving community here."
He urged the community to consider the project as more than just a performing arts centre.
"This is much more than that," he said.
"It is an expansion of the gallery and the library and the conservatorium. It is about the ABC, it is about the function centres and conference centres.
"This is about many things."
He was highly optimistic the project would attract funding from the state and federal governments because it linked up strategic programs currently run by both levels.
"At the federal level we have the building better region fund and at a state level we go the create NSW infrastructure fund," Cr Inglis said.
"Both of those strategies and both the purposes of those funds is for projects like this."
Juanita Wilson said the precinct would have an amazing benefit to the city.
"A community needs a soul and often the soul of a community is how they spend their time when they are not at work," she said.
"The performing arts centre gives the opportunity for young and old to be inspired, to be entertained."
The business case for the precinct went on public display on Wednesday.