THE City of Greater Bendigo will continue to subsidise performing arts and other cultural institutions in the city after a push to carve up its City Futures Directorate was shut down at Wednesday's council meeting.
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An independent review last year recommended investigating the creation of a separate body comprising the Economic Development Unit, Tourism, the Bendigo Art Gallery, The Capital and Major Events, which would aspire to be self-sufficient within five years.
In response, the council tabled a report which contended that carving up the directorate would "fragment and stall" economic growth in the city.
In his support for the continuation of the directorate in its current form, Councillor Rod Fyffe said a rise in price of admission to cultural institutions brought about by creating a separate body would render them "elitist" facilities.
"We are encouraging people to come to the art gallery so that people can be educated; so that people can enjoy it and understand its an important part of their civic education," he said.
Cr Elise Chapman criticised the council's response to the recommendation.
She described the Bendigo Art Gallery was "an arterial wound", bleeding the city of money.
Cr Chapman argued cultural institutions needed to go through similar cut cutting measures as those faced by the Home and Community Care program recently.
"I think there are many efficiencies to be found," she said.
"Everyone knows if you want to have a cat in Bendigo you've got to pay; if you want to have a dog, you want to have a swim, you've got to pay; if you want to hire something from the library you've got to pay; if you want your children to run around an athletics track, you've got to pay. But the art gallery is free.
"This is millions of dollars that rate payers are carrying."