Our Organisation
Gascoyne in May Inc is a not-for-profit incorporated association ‘owned’ by the Gascoyne communities. Ten years’ experience of delivering cultural events and arts projects have distilled the understanding that the Board of organisation needs to include local artists, producers, and project managers. It is vital that they have direct experience of building and delivering local arts and cultural agendas and have the skill sets and knowledge to understand what they are managing. A combination of on the ground and strategic overview is crucial which is why in 2022 we focused on matching the practical skills and experience of current Board members with some high-level business skills and capacity in the areas of fundraising and governance. The Board of directors is supported by working groups representing each of GiM’s festival locations.
Board meetings take place at least three times per year and are attended by executive staff in an ex officio capacity. Yearly staff review/interview to check that the current skills of staff members are still appropriate.
Gascoyne in May has an intra-regional committee of local producers at each of the six locations across the Gascoyne who directly create ‘their’ respective festivals and community engagement programs. They are all long-term residents of the Gascoyne who then liaise with each of the respective Local Governments and Festival working
groups (one for each festival location). Working groups made up of local people on the ground who take the risk of staging a public venture (will it succeed?), are personally invested in the projects and co-create the annual program with the EP. This model took seven years to distil and is a true representation of each community’s sentiments. It is functional and efficient. Working Group members must be members of the incorporated organisation but are not necessarily on the Board/Management Committee.
The Board has, after several years, established a stable foundation of pragmatic members committed to driving GiM’s core priorities while securing viable organisational sustainability and succession planning. The executive Board roles have been held constantly for over two years by long term Gascoyne residents who have the skill set and passion to direct GiM to the next phase of governance and guide it to improved operational capacity and financial sustainability.
The Constitution allows for Sub-Committees (i.e. the working groups) made up of any members to have delegated authority to carry out certain functions and/or duties approved by the Committee. GiM membership is comprised of the people and groups who deliver, champion and drive GiM’s annual program. The membership includes pastoralists, community members from Burringurrah, Woodgamia and Mungullah communities, teens/young people, seniors, Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, migrants -with a balance between men and women. It is the organisation’s policy to keep membership free. Apart from wanting to safeguard accessibility, the cost of generating fees and administering their collection would outweigh the capacity for revenue.
The Board meets every three months to conduct business with the six working groups tasked to deliver organisational objectives. Due to a lack of operational funding, Chair, Secretary and Treasurer have been meeting with the Executive Producer between, and pre-Board meetings to manage, prepare and monitor fiscal agendas and business matters. It is noted this is not ideal but has enabled the GiM to exist and grow in its remote regional setting.
The Board and membership base reflect a diverse and genuine group of dedicated, skilled Gascoyne and other regional artists and businesspeople committed to building a strong governance structure and a clear strategic direction. It is these members who maintain partnerships with local government, stakeholders, and project partners. Gascoyne in May Inc. is an incorporated not-for-profit organisation with – currently -50 members, 30 of whom are active.