Arts fundraiser gets first members

Community representatives have been appointed to a fundraising committee that aims to raise funds for the West Gippsland Arts Centre redevelopment.

Council has already received $4 million state government funding towards the $13.9 million project and also has committed $4 million council funds in this year’s budget.

An application to the federal government for a further $4.9 million has not been determined yet.

To further assist with fundraising for the redevelopment, council agreed to establish a community led fundraising committee to raise funds.

The project will expand the art centre’s audience capacity from 480 to 750 seats and deliver a number of upgrades to the theatre foyer and backstage areas.

Council has endorsed the appointment of a number of community members including:

Leane Gooding, a recently retired accountant and active member of Warragul Theatre Company and Off the Leash Theatre;

Kim McFarlane, a local lawyer and member of the Arts and Culture Advisory Committee.

John Parker, representing U3A and a regular patron of WGAC; Stephanie Clark, a young theatre maker; and, Jeannie Haughton, a local writer, theatre maker and community arts leader and practitioner.

Warragul Rotary Club and Warragul Inner Wheel also indicated they would like to be part of the committee.

The report said council also approached David Cann (Warragul Business Group, Cheryl Drayton (indigenous community) and Erika McInerney (Warragul Farmers Market and social media marketer) to join the committee.

Cr Mikaela Power said the people who have nominated for the committee represented a cross section of the community and will be “effective motivators and good marketers for us and the arts centre.”

Cr Power said the asset was a great asset to the community.

“It has a great theatre but we need more and we need our community to know that,” she said.

Cr Terry Williamson said the arts centre was an icon of Baw Baw Shire.

“It’s a very well-known venue and doubles as a tourism asset because it showcases Baw Baw Shire,” he said.

Cr Williamson said the original plan for the facility was always to have 750 seats.

“We should be able to generate enthusiasm and support for this extension,” he said.

Cr Joe Gauci said the fundraising committee was a way for the local community to show its support for the project.

He said council could advocate for the project and go to federal and state governments to ask for funding but federal members of parliament needed to take note that “it’s our community that want this project.”

“At the moment we don’t have a commitment from the federal government – we don’t have a yes, but we don’t have a no either,” he said.