As the largest creditor from the BOAA Festival the first thing one thinks of is themself and in my situation how this is affecting my business and my family financially, but there is a much bigger picture. Julie Collins and Derek John undertook a massive project to create an exhibition that was going to be a feather in Ballarat's cap and enhance us as a city for years to come.
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I am extremely disappointed not just from my financial viewpoint, but for those that have only seen this festival for the financial mess that remains and attempt to destroy and discredit. Many people put a lot of man hours into this Exhibition without financial remuneration, for all of the good intent associated with Julie and Derek's brainchild.
Unfortunately many people have been very quick to walk away and criticise the BOAA Festival. I hope in the wash up that the ground work that has been laid by the BOAA Festival is not lost forever and the hard work and financial loss of many people amounts to something.
The National Association for the Visual Arts (NAVA), an advocacy, policy and action body for the Australian contemporary arts sector, is in Ballarat to represent the concerns of artists who have not been paid following the collapse of the Biennale of Australian Art (BOAA).
NAVA executive director Esther Anatolitis is meeting with artists who have not been paid by the event on Thursday morning in Ballarat. BOAA went into liquidation last month owing over $400,000. NAVA claims the 32 artists it is supporting are owed a total of $117,950.50.
The Courier has seen the creditors' report prepared by Worrells Solvency & Forensic Accountants, which costs the debts of BOAA at $473,686, with $460,269 of that money unsecured.
Ms Anatolitis says the while the liquidators have not been in touch with NAVA as they are not creditors, NAVA has seen the financial statement issued by them for BOAA and it is troubling.
"It's a very awful situation," Ms Anatolitis told The Courier.
"The artists should be the top priority and not the afterthought, but of course once a company goes into administration, the administrators will tick through a list. I think there are questions around what personal and business assets can be realised; whether the board had directors and officers liability insurance, for example."
