Maitland Regional Art Gallery is rated in the top five regional galleries in NSW. It is a community asset that provides exhibitions, art classes and a unique cultural space to Maitland.

Council provide this facility because our community is made up of more than just roads and sports grounds.

We need to demonstrate to council that we support the MRAG.

The MRAG contributes over $6 million dollars to our economy through tourism. At a recent council meeting the MRAG faced an unprecedented threat to its operational funding.

Maitland Council debated the annual indexation of MRAG's funding at their meeting on Tuesday the 22nd of May 2018. Councillor Philip Penfold voted to freeze funding to the MRAG. The increase in funding for 2018/19 was recommended by council officers to meet increasing wage and utility cost without cutting services.

Cl Philip Penfold is a long time opponent of the Maitland Regional Art Gallery. Liberal Councillors Halliday and Griffin vote with the four "Penfold Independents". All Labor Councillors voted for the increase in funding and Liberal Councillors Mitchel and Ranadive voted to increase the funding in line with the Operational Plan.

The vote was tied 6 - 6. Labor Mayor Loretta Baker used her casting vote to ensure that the council officers' recommendations were carried.