BIG West Festival organisers are asking Maribyrnong City Council to show them the money and boost their funding by $20,000.

In one of her last acts as festival director, Karen Hadfield appealed to the council last week for more funding for its 2011 extravaganza.

Big West is also after a “more usable” office space that could accommodate rehearsals, exhibitions and other events.

Councillor Martin Zakharov said the festival organisers were also keen to continue the Big West spirit between festivals.

“They want to operate more stuff outside the festival period and develop more community arts,” he said.

The Big West Festival is a 10-day community arts festival held every two years in November.

Last year, internationally renowned US sculptor Dave Cole and a team of 30 professional artists and local community members spent six days knitting Footscray’s Stockbridge for the Big Knit.

Other events included the Tin Chef cook-off, The Big Backyard Home is where…workshops and the Heartland Mix Concert. Next year’s festival will be the eighth time it has run.

Maribyrnong City Council currently contributes about $60,000 towards the event. The festival also receives funding from Arts Victoria and a range of private investors.

The council has referred the request to the 2010-11 council budget for consideration.

Ms Hadfield finished up as festival organiser last Wednesday.

Former Jigsaw Theatre Company artistic director Kate Shearer is now heading the festival.