Members of the Montague Arts and Crafts Society have voted to move its art studio space from the Cottage to Narooma Men’s Shed.
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There was a large turnout of about 60 members at Friday’s special general meeting that was called to vote on the proposed move of the MACS studio space from the Cottage in Campbell Street to the Narooma Men’s Shed in Glasshouse Rocks Road.
After an initial address by MACS president Colin Berry outlining the benefits of the move, followed by a general discussion on aspects of MACS and the move, a written ballot was organised resulting in an overwhelming majority in favour of the move.
Mr Berry said new site promised to be a better home for MACS, with safer parking and disabled access and a synergy with the Men’s Shed to work together on projects, and the option to run a craft market on the premises from time to time.
“The larger spaces will enable the various art and craft groups to grow,” Mr Berry said. “The membership of MACS has grown by about 40 per cent over the last 12 to 18 months to about 170 members, with many of the new members participating actively in these groups.
“I would like to thank the MACS committee for their support during this transition, and now we can get busy setting up the new premises and vacating the Cottage.
“I would also like to acknowledge the Men’s Shed committee and their membership for enthusiastically providing this opportunity to share their premises.”
The Men’s Shed occupies the site on Tuesdays and Thursdays each week, MACS will organise their workshops for Monday, Wednesday and Friday, with the option to attend on the weekends and occasionally run craft fairs on the Saturday and Sunday for the locals and visitors to the area.
The Cottage that will be vacated is owned and managed by Narooma School of Arts and Soldiers War Memorial in the complex that includes the Narooma Kinema and SoArt Gallery. It is hoped a new artist group could come in and rent the Cottage from the School of Arts.
In other related news, the Eurobodalla Shire Council this month voted to approve a fifty per cent reductions in council rates on the School of Arts premises for the next four years, along with several other not-for-profit organisations, including Central Tilba School of Arts, Narooma CWA and Narooma Woodies.
Registered charities and not for profit community groups were invited to apply for the subsidies back in August and councillors voted this month to approve the grants, which are valued at just over $20,000 each year.
The competitive subsidies are granted to groups that provide services to the community or that are undertaking projects that benefit the community.
The council has previously issued the subsidies on an annual basis and past recipients were advised by letters in March and June of the change in application process.
The council said the new four-year program provided community groups with the financial certainty they need to plan and deliver their services to the community.