Tim Quilty took aim at HotHouse Theatre and Murray Arts during debate at this week’s council meeting over new funding deals for each organisation.

“Generally council payments for the arts, including live theatre, is a subsidy from the general ratepayer to the wealthier better educated elites,” Cr Quilty said.

“On top of that there is no lease paid for the theatre itself, council is picking up fairly heavy maintenance costs on the facilities there.

“I actually get a bit tired of saying ‘no’ to these things, I like the theatre, this is already in the budget, but at the end of the day ratepayers shouldn't have to pay these subsidies.”

Cr Quilty voted against three-year pacts with HotHouse and Murray Arts, which involve the council annually providing $50,000 and $20,000 respectively.

HotHouse Theatre chief executive and artistic director Lyn Wallis said it was wrong to characterise her performing arts group as only catering to the affluent.

“The notion that the HotHouse is just for the rich people of the community isn’t true,” Ms Wallis said.

“We do an enormous amount for our community through creative development and access to artists.

“We have many cheaper prices and make sure we’re available to as many people as possible.

“He’s entitled to his view, but we know HotHouse is core to the community and involves all members … from students to seniors.”

Ms Wallis said admission ranged from $10 to $49, which was “a hell of a lot cheaper than metropolitan ticket prices”.

She conceded HotHouse needed to attract more Wodonga residents to shows with a third of patrons from south of the Murray River and the remainder from Albury.

“We would like to see half and half,” Ms Wallis said.

She said 36 per cent of those who attended a recent cabaret show, Mother’s Ruin, were first-time patrons.

Former mayor John Watson and councillor Danny Lowe defended subsidies for the arts, comparing them to money spent on sporting needs in the city.

“We spend a lot of money on sporting assets and things like that,” Cr Watson said.

“There’s also a tourism aspect to it as well, so I’m more than happy to support it.”

Cr Lowe said: “We do support our sporting organisations greatly, as we should do and continue to do so, as we should do our cultural arts precincts.

“Tourism worldwide, the biggest driving factor in every town is actually arts and culture.

“It’s all about supporting our local artists, our local culture.”

Councillor Kat Bennett said that while Murray Arts had requested $25,000 it would receive only $20,000.

“Even though their costs are increasing we’ve decided to keep it at that $20,000,” Cr Bennett said.

As part of the deal with HotHouse, the theatre group will have to boost attendance and hiring of its Butter Factory Theatre and Studio on Gateway Island.