IDEAS flowed last week when Narooma School of Arts committee members met Eurobodalla Shire Council’s Heritage Consultant Pip Giovanelli to discuss proposed improvements to the heritage-listed School of Arts Hall.
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“The main feature we discussed was an awning around the north-east corner of the Hall for the convenience of Kinema patrons, an idea suggested by Hall lessee and Kinema operator John Griffiths,” said School of Arts committee member Paul Dixon.
“Pip was quite enthusiastic about the idea and suggested various ways we could do it.”
School of Arts president Graham Peachey said that last year the organisation took time out to review its plans to enhance Narooma’s arts precinct to ensure they met community needs, and also reviewed projected costs.
“We decided our first priority is improvements to the Hall,” Mr Peachey said.
“This includes creating wing space on both sides of stage, a downstairs men’s dressing room and increased storage, renovation of downstairs toilets, the awning around the north-east corner of the hall, repaint the entire building, and solar panels on the roof.
“We hope to fund this through a cocktail of funding from Federal and State governments, cultural funds and hopefully donations.
“Once we complete the Hall, we’ll then proceed with the bigger Narooma Arts Centre project to provide larger and better facilities for everyone in our community to use and enjoy and a gallery with highway frontage.”
Mr Peachey said it is quite extraordinary that the people of Narooma own this land, not council or the NSW Government.
“We are all responsible for managing, maintaining and enhancing the site and facilities for the arts in its broadest sense,” he said. “That’s the Kinema, MACS Cottage and the SoArt Gallery.
“Some activities are already happening on site but are restricted by a lack of space and facilities.”
Mr Peachey said the School of Arts’ architect ClarkeKeller has taken the group’s many ideas on board and is now finalising plans for both the Hall and the Arts Centre.
Find out more at www.naroomaartscentre.com.au