Nolan Media and Events exited Wangaratta Jazz Festival with major concerns on financial management and direction

Nolan Media and Events director Phil Nolan confirmed his company had “significant concerns” around the financial management and direction of the festival board and felt “largely uncomfortable” about continuing in a paid capacity.

It has been revealed Wangaratta Council stepped in with a $100,000 contribution which wasn’t disclosed at the time to ensure the festival went ahead including payment to Nolan Media and Events for work done up before resigning.

“Our decision was based on our significant concerns around the financial management and direction of the festival board at the time and we felt largely uncomfortable about continuing with our association with the festival in a paid capacity,” Mr Nolan said.

“We were acutely aware of areas which were cause for financial concern and did not feel that these were being appropriately managed by the board.

“We completed all aspects of our contractual requirements, and this was acknowledged by the board at the time of our departure.

“Our over-riding concern was and remains the ongoing success of the festival.

“We sincerely hope that a well-qualified and skilled group of board members can help get this important community event back on track for the benefit of all.”

The $100,000 one-off payment, which became public last week, was in addition to $55,000 ratepayers contribute to the festival on an annual basis.

The council, which had a councillor and staff member on the festival committee, has been asked to provide a breakdown on how the $100,000 was spent.

Mayor Dean Rees said the council would spend the $55,000 it had budgeted for this year’s festival on staging another event in the November timeslot.

But to offset the unexpected $100,000 payment to the festival, the council will reduce its community grants program by $20,000 and scrapped a “Down By The River” event estimated to cost $24,000.

The festival event suffered another recent setback with the resignation of artistic co-director Adam Simmons which has contributed to the decision to not stage the festival this year.