GREAT NEWS!

Forbes Arts Society is very excited to announce the successful funding submission to complete the Sculpture Down the Lachlan Trail. The $5.7 million funding boost was announced on Friday 15 November by the Hon Sam Farraway under the NSW State Government Regional Growth, Environment and Tourism Development fund. Members of the Society along with representatives from the proposal partners and sponsors Forbes Shire Council, Lachlan Shire Council and Evolution Mining were present at the Wiradjuri Dreaming Centre to hear the announcement.

This funding boost will enable the commissioning of twenty sculptures, a new cultural centre and three new bird hides at Gum Swamp to promote Forbes as an arts based tourism destination. "This sculpture trail will be a unique, permanent installation unlike anything else in regional NSW," Mr Farraway said. Forbes Shire Council Mayor Phyllis Miller welcomed the funding with council providing a further $784,000 to deliver the project.

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The completion of the sculpture trail will promote Forbes and the wider Lachlan Valley region as a tourism destination both nationally and internationally and complement other arts based ventures such as the Eugowra Murals, Utes in the Paddock at Condobolin, galleries and gardens at Canowindra and Cowra and the music based Parkes Elvis Festival.

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Gold, gold, gold! More exciting news with our associated event Grazing Down the Lachlan receiving GOLD in the Festivals and Events category at the NSW State Tourism Awards held in Sydney on Thursday 14 November, in front of 500 industry representatives. Congratulations to Wendy Muffet and her dedicated team of volunteers from the Grazing Down the Lachlan committee, a well deserved accolade.