Plans for the new Narooma Arts & Community Centre (NACC) have now been approved by Eurobodalla Shire Council.
“It’s time for our whole community to break out the champagne,” said Narooma School of Arts President Jenni Bourke.
“We know the new building, alongside the Kinema, will enhance the School of Arts’ site as an inspiring and vital Arts and cultural hub which will strengthen our community and also stimulate our economy well into the future, particularly through cultural tourism.”
The plans are the culmination of a process begun in 2006 when artists and others identified the need for more purpose-built Arts and community spaces in Narooma.
“It’s taken a huge amount of work by successive School of Arts’ committees and others over the years, in association with our architects ClarkeKeller, to bring it from that original concept to this stage,” Mrs Bourke said. “Neil Mumme of Progressive Project Solutions assisted us through the DA stage.
“Now we have the huge task of making it a reality.”
The NACC will include:
· three studio/workshops/meeting rooms (at the rear) – suitable for Arts workshops, meetings, educational classes, singing groups etc. Studio 1 will have a sprung floor for dance classes and rehearsals.
· a gallery-exhibition area with highway frontage
· a catering-level kitchen.
The site is owned by the Narooma community and held and managed on its behalf by Narooma School of Arts & Soldiers War Memorial Hall Inc.
With the project now ‘shovel ready’, Narooma School of Arts will seek funding for the estimated $4m build from several sources. These include the Australian Government, the NSW Government, various Foundations, philanthropic companies and individuals, smaller family foundations and generous locals.
Narooma School of Arts has gift donor recipient status so donations are tax deductible.
Above: Some of the delighted School of Arts team celebrate the news that Council has given Development Consent for the Narooma Arts & Community Centre project on site. School of Arts president Jenni Bourke is front right.
