DEPUTY Mayor Ross Bartley remembers when the idea of Jumpers and Jazz was first born.

From a small art exhibition to an event of national significance, he has seen it grow from strength to strength.

And as Warwick's iconic event faces its biggest challenge yet, the Southern Downs councillor is determined to see it succeed.

The question of whether funding the event is a council responsibility has dogged Jumpers and Jazz - and Cr Bartley.

"History will dictate that the council has been heavily involved," he said.

"If you look at major events around Australia there seems to be a lot of council involvement - the Chinchilla Melon Festival, Carnival of Flowers just to name a few.

"Look at the Leyburn Sprints; the council puts funding towards that."

As chairman of the Warwick Art Gallery committee, Cr Bartley knows all too well how much hard work goes into making the event shine.

And he knows the art gallery can't do it alone. "The committee are busy enough running the gallery without taking on the whole festival," he said.

"I need to be officially told that Destination Southern Downs does not run events."

While community input was always welcome into the event, Cr Bartley was concerned about what would happen if Jumpers and Jazz was given to a community group to run.

"Warwick Tourism and Events was started because Ron Bellingham identified our events were struggling," he said.

"Traditionally, events run by community groups don't do as well unless they have official support.

"The community are walking away from managing events."

Jumpers and Jazz needs to be fresh and exciting each year, a challenge Cr Bartley was worried about the community meeting.

"Everyone wants a new event and (the organisers) have been doing it very well," he said.

During the 12 years of Jumpers and Jazz festivities, Cr Bartley said, he hadn't heard too many negative comments about the council funding the event.

"Most people accept the money has to come from somewhere," he said.

"The council endorses expenditure of art gallery money on the art side of Jumpers and Jazz.

"That says to me the council itself wants it to continue."

Should Jumpers and Jazz fail on the events front, Cr Bartley was determined to see the arts side of the event continue and said there would still be tree jumpers in the main street.

The frustrated Deputy Mayor took at aim at those claiming he had turned Jumpers and Jazz into a political football, stating he had genuine concern for the future of the festival.

Art gallery director Karina Devine was approached to make a comment, but declined to do so until the gallery committee meets this afternoon.

A public statement is expected to be released by the gallery after the meeting.

The Daily News asked a number of questions of the Southern Downs Regional Council, but was told by a spokeswoman the council needed more time to answer.