$23,500 kicks off arts fundraiser
With the theme of honour the past, serve the present and inspire the future the West Gippsland Arts Centre upgrade project was launched last week.
A total of $23,500 was pledged on the night to the fundraising campaign.
Baw Baw Shire mayor Joe Gauci said the upgrade would enable the arts centre to be the leading regional arts centre with great economic benefits for the shire.
He said it would be the place for the arts but it also may be a place to catch up for coffee. It is about celebrating, remembering, learning and sharing.
“This upgrade will serve us now and into the future,” he said.
“This community can together support and activate this project.”
Cr Gauci said it was about spreading the word and getting the community behind the project.
Arts centre director Rob Robson said the arts centre was the place where many young people had had their first introduction to the arts.
He said the upgrading of the centre would ensure that the next generation would be inspired and hopefully the generations after that.
Symbolising the local talent that perform at the centre the evening featured performances from Lynn Jones and the Youth Chorus with ‘Marriage of Figaro’ and Chairo Christian School students Tiffany St Mart and Jondrae Swanepoel performing an item from the school’s recent production of ‘The Sound of Music’
This was followed by Warragul Regional College students Sammi Lee, Teagan Blackstock, Jasmine Thomas, Connor Beggs, Lilly Thomas, Lachlan Costello, Aaron Keeble and Rosie Handley performing an item from its recent musical ‘All Shook Up’ and St Paul’s Anglican Grammar School students Oscar Grant, Grace Attard and Chris Staben performing ‘Beauty and the Beast’, the school’s recent production.
Off the Leash Theatre actors Teigan Bliss and Nick Clarke performed a song from the upcoming production of ‘Milo’s Wake’ and the arts centre front of house manager Pharic Scott sang ‘Out There’
The program concluded with professional performers Rachael Beck and David Hobson, who both emphasised how their careers began in regional arts centres similar to Warragul’s.
The $13.9 million project includes increased seating from 480 to 750, new access foyers, accessible wheelchair spaces, assisted access aisles and an elevator.
The redevelopment includes meeting spaces for regional conferences and technical improvements to attract major productions.
Baw baw Shire Council will contribute $5 million through the development contribution levies and the State Government has announced funding fo $4 million.
An application for a $4.9 million Federal Government grant is awaiting approval.
Mr Robson described it as a once in a lifetime project.
He said it would honour the legacy of those who had been behind the centre’s conception and growth over the past 33 years by ensuring g it would continue to be a leading regional arts centre for the next 33 years and more.
Mr Robson said it would serve the community right now to enable the centre to continue providing exciting entertainment and a place for people to gather and share the experience of live performances.
He said it also would inspire the future by providing children with a place where they could take their first bow, grow in confidence and fully develop their skills and talents.