In great news for the city, the Old Ceramics Room at the Goulburn Regional Conservatorium is going to be transformed into a new rehearsal and performance space for musicians and artists.
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The GRC has received $1.3 million from the State Government to transform the space into a “creative precinct”.
The new space will be an adjunct to the city’s Performing Arts Centre, which also had $4.5m in funding announced for it on Friday.
Goulburn Regional Conservatorium (GRC) director Paul Scott-Williams said it was “fantastic news for the district”.
“We have been successful in receiving a grant under the Regional Cultural Fund for $1.3 million to change the old, wrecked ceramics room at the Con into a new facility called the Creative Precinct, for the whole community to use,” Mr Scott-Williams said.
“It will be a place to come and grow ideas, to work together and rehearse to inspire creativity in the whole region.
“The GRC already has a strong reputation for commissioning new work so we hope the renovation and re-purposing of this space will inspire more of that; not just for music professionals, but also for school groups and community groups. It is for anyone who wants to come in here and use this facility.
“My dream is that Goulburn will become the ‘off Broadway’ to Sydney and Canberra.”
Member for Goulburn Pru Goward said the facility would also have a kitchen, toilets and a bar.
“So it will be a great public place as well,” Ms Goward said.
“It is an absolute joy to announce this. I am keen lover of the arts and this will bring so much richness to the city.”
NSW arts minister Don Harwin said it would be a flexible cultural space.
“A lot of towns in NSW are asking for such facilities. They want spaces that can be used for all different sorts of uses, such as performance spaces and rehearsal spaces, as well as for exhibitions,” Mr Harwin said.
“The first round of funding of the Regional Cultural Fund has allocated just under $50m worth of projects to 68 projects right around the state.
“The funding is for things that make communities more livable, like arts and culture and sport.
“There are two fabulous projects in Goulburn that we are supporting.
“I came down last year and met with Pru Goward and the council and they showed me over the old Town Hall and talked me through their proposal for a Performing Arts Centre.
“They are going to reuse it as well as build a 440-seat performance space that will be a tremendous facility and it will be a wonderful addition to the cultural life of Goulburn.
“This facility at the GRC will be complementary to that; a flexible space that will work well with the more formal PAC.
“It is a great day for arts and culture in Goulburn.”
Applications will soon be invited for the next round of funding through the scheme.
David Cole
Journalist at the Goulburn Post
Journalist at the Goulburn Post
