Council to reimburse eisteddfod costs following theatre closure

Narrabri Shire Council will reimburse the Narrabri Arts Eisteddfod for out-of-pocket costs after the event had to be cancelled as a result of The Crossing Theatre’s sudden closure.

After being closed briefly in May, council advised that The Crossing Theatre would remain closed for approximately five additional weeks in order to rectify further issues that were identified during scheduled fire safety upgrades.

Last week, council announced the facility’s reopening had been delayed until late July.

Councillors agreed at last Wednesday evening’s meeting to cover eisteddfod expenses totalling $6539. The 2026 Narrabri Eisteddfod will also receive a 50 per cent discount on hire fees.

As part of its make-good to the eisteddfod, council also agreed to collaborate with the organisation to convene an event in the current calendar year.

Mayor Darrell Tiemens told the meeting he and general manager Eloise Chaplain had met with committee members.

“I know that not only were there a lot of very disappointed families and children and various others who are from our local shire, but also from around the region,” Cr Tiemens said.

“I mean, we do have such an incredible asset, and it’s been a devastating thing that The Crossing Theatre has been closed for such a period of time.

“And we do obviously apologise for all those disappointed families and kids and others who have been involved. And the Arts Eisteddfod are just such a wonderful group of volunteers and I apologised on behalf of our council a few weeks ago for everything that they’ve gone through.”

In a letter to council, tabled at last week’s meeting, Narrabri Arts Eisteddfod said the late notice of The Crossing Theatre’s unavailability and the need to cancel the event has caused major stress, extreme disappointment and emotional pressures for the committee in particular.

“This has also been the case for the entrants and the wider community. We are very concerned that we were given extremely short notice of the changes to our booking,” the letter read.

“The flow on effect has been enormous – it is not just Narrabri Shire entrants who have been impacted. Entrants come from the Gunnedah, Moree, Walgett and Tamworth shire areas.

“Many months of eager preparation goes into entrants performing at the Eisteddfod. We feel there has been large scale damage to the reputation of our eisteddfod committee, the town and shire.

This year we had an increased number of entries with over 1000 items.

“The Narrabri Arts Eisteddfod provides an opportunity where the people of our shire and beyond can gather to perform or to be part of an audience at a showcase of creative and cultural talent that is afforded by such an event. It is a community and cultural event which raises both the morale and sense of connection in our community and to foster an interest in the arts genre.”

The eisteddfod committee highlighted that it books the event at the facility three years in advance and works hard to secure sponsors for the annual concert to proceed.

“Surely a major event like the eisteddfod should be considered when planning major capital works or maintenance? The flow on effect from not holding our event at The Crossing Theatre is also massive, as there will be decreased sales and use of the café,” the letter read.

Cr Amanda Brown moved the motion to reimburse the Narrabri Arts Eisteddfod, to reduce hire fees by 50 per cent in 2026 and to collaborate in regards to a concert in the current calendar year as a goodwill gesture. This was seconded by Cr Brett Nolan.

During the discussion of the eisteddfod matter, Cr Tiemens told the meeting council is hoping at some stage during July that The Crossing Theatre “will be safe and it will be ticked off as being fire safe, which is exactly what our council is looking for”.

“We can’t open that building until it has absolutely been ticked off by all the fire authorities,” Cr Tiemens said.