Following on from an information meeting held on January 12, support for the regional arts board has grown, with council's community services manager Lyn Williams receiving 20 letters from individuals, organisations and arts groups supporting the move.

A regional arts board is a volunteer committee that facilitates delivery of funding programs and initiatives, while providing assistance for community artistic endeavours, as well as planning programs specific to the area and requirements.

A regional arts development officer would be employed as a vehicle for advice and expertise.

The board would cover the Leeton, Narrandera and Griffith shires.

Ms Williams was impressed with the support given to the idea of creating the board.

"At this stage all signs are pointing to being able to establish this board," she said.

"Everything is looking good and its now a matter of working through all of the documentation.

"We met with chief executive officer of NSW Regional Arts Elizabeth Rogers last month and she was also very positive and said she would lobby to NSW Arts on our behalf."

In order to progress the proposal further:

- Each council is to send Ms Rogers key information and letters of support to use to promote the viability of a Regional Arts Board.

- A Regional Arts Development Working Party will need to be established.

- Each council will need to commit to provide seed funding for the board.

- Preparation of necessary documentation, including constitution, business plan, financial plan and strategic plan will need to commence.

- A program of proposed activities and interests for each area will need to be developed.

n A funding submission to NSW Arts will need to be prepared.

Submissions for funding open in June for a short period, with Ms Williams working to have everything in order by that time to apply.

"Over the next couple of weeks I'll be contacting everyone in our database to see what their ideas are so we can put them in the submission," she said.