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'Right time, right place'

24/9/2021

26 Comments

 
PictureLet's talk about it: Bold new vision for a Wonthaggi creative arts and cultural precinct.
​By Catherine Watson
 
IMAGINE spending the day in our own local arts precinct. Checking out the latest exhibition from the vast Robert Smith collection of international prints and paintings. Or perhaps you’ve come for the touring Archibald exhibition, or just to enjoy some of old favourites from Bass Coast’s own collection.
 
You’re booked in for a print making workshop in the afternoon. Just time for a coffee and sandwich in the sunny café courtyard and to wander through the sculpture park before heading into the studio …   
 
That’s the bold new vision for a Wonthaggi creative arts and cultural precinct envisaged by the council’s arts and culture advisory committee, made up of local artists and supporters.

​Their detailed and ambitious discussion paper plan was tabled at last week’s meeting of Bass Coast councillors and will be considered by the council.
 
The paper argues that the former Wonthaggi Secondary College campus in McBride Avenue presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create a civic heart for the rapidly growing town and make it a destination for locals and visitors alike.
 
“Now working mainly as a drive-through shopping town (a regional services ‘watershed’), its city fabric sorely lacks a precinct dedicated to the enjoyment of cultural activities and celebration of its own identity.”
 
The committee says the discussion paper is the first step in creating a master plan for the site, which the State Government has promised to hand over to the council for community use. Talks are continuing on the terms of the handover, including who should pay for demolition and asbestos removal.
 
A Bass Coast cultural precinct has been on the radar for many years. The discussion paper says the time is right with all three tiers of Government looking to stimulate the post-COVID economy through infrastructure projects and investing in programs that support the arts and cultural tourism.

The centrepiece of the arts precinct would be a regional art gallery, showcasing Bass Coast’s artists and identity, telling our own stories and celebrating the heritage of the area – including our indigenous heritage. It would house:
  • Touring collections
  • Local and indigenous art of the Bunurong-Boonwurung people.
  • Robert Smith Collection, featuring around 600 international and Australian works including the Noel Counihan collection of Wonthaggi mining art prints.
  • The shire’s own art collection of around 100 artworks accumulated over several years featuring acquisitions and annual Your Art Collection winners

“The Precinct will become a point of community connection: for people to meet, for artists to connect with other artists and their audiences, and for anyone to learn about art and how to create it.
 
“It also presents an opportunity to celebrate our past, providing a place to tell our stories.
Indigenous history and art should be incorporated.”
 
The discussion paper envisages that several of the school buildings could be retro-fitted for multiple uses. Their preservation would contribute to the retention of local heritage, memory and stories, as well as being more environmentally sustainable than demolishing and rebuilding.
 
It notes the site is ideally located on the civic spine of Wonthaggi; McBride Avenue, opposite the council offices, the old bank and Post Office, with other benefits:
• Has a prominent, visible corner site on a hill with open public lawn areas on McBride creating the appropriate setting for a ‘statement building’.
• Is ideal for safe pedestrian traffic. Widening the footpaths and planting trees would create an area for cafes with outdoor seating, small shops and even an arts and craft market on weekends.
• Is adaptable for mixed use, possibly including housing and business. Walkable lanes through the heart of the precinct would knit the site into the town fabric.
Picture
The proposed arts and cultural precinct would also house:
  • Wonthaggi Library – a purpose-built library, customisable for multiple uses, associated with education, on council-owned land, thus saving considerable rent.
  • Studios for artists to create, dream, design, present, sell, engage with each other and the public.
  • High profile tenants - such as a performing arts group or animation company
  • Artist residencies to inspire new talent.
  • Performance and recording spaces to support local music, live art and performance.
  • Outdoor stage for bands, live show performances, and an open-air cinema in summer.
  • Sculpture park
26 Comments
Felicia Di Stefano
24/9/2021 01:59:02 pm

I vote definitely yes. How exciting and think how many artists such a centre would draw to our area, once it became famous and win awards. Much gratitude to the committee for their hard work.

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Joan Hindle
24/9/2021 02:15:21 pm

I would like to see part of the site become a new home for Wonthaggi U3A. The current U3A site in White's Rd near the Chisholm Institute isn't an easily accessible site for many of the older generation.
How stimulating it would be for U3A's senior citizens to be in close proximity to a creative arts and cultural precinct if it was to be developed on the former Wonthaggi Secondary School Campus in McBride Avenue.

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Nicholas Peck
24/9/2021 02:25:26 pm

What a fabulous idea this is. I couldn't agree with it more and would like to include in the approach a space for an annual writers festival to be involved as well as moving the youth hub from across the road into it to capture the next generations imagination.

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Richard Kemp
24/9/2021 02:33:53 pm

This is a brilliant idea and is much needed for Wonthaggi and the surrounding district as a display hub for local artists.
I hope that a wing of it is called the Jimmy Glover wing after a man that created some beautiful works of art there and was an outstanding teacher..

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Susan Fowler
24/9/2021 03:11:07 pm

This is such a fabulous and exciting proposal. Just what we need.

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Jeni Jobe
24/9/2021 04:21:22 pm

Exactly what is needed for our shire. A truely inspired plan that would nourish our cultural heart. This type of vision is working well in other regional towns and would ad to the prosperity and wellness of Bass Coast.

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David Butcher
24/9/2021 04:47:20 pm

A great idea, A cultural centre is sadly missing from Wonthaggi and this could be more than simply an Arts precinct but also a hub for community groups with meeting rooms etc like the Inverloch Hub.. It would also be a great home for 3mFM which currently has no disability access. While Wonthaggi is the administrative and services heart of the Bass Coast, it lacks a beating heart and soul. This proposal would re-define and rejuvenate Wonthaggi and provide a focal point for the abundance of local creative talent.

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Richard Kemp
24/9/2021 04:51:18 pm

Wow I am impress with the response. Just when we thought the Old Tech. was done it may be revived into a place of beauty and culture for all to share.

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Annette Marshall
24/9/2021 05:01:56 pm

YES PLEASE! This would definitely be an asset to the Bass Coast Shire. As an artist and art teacher I would relish such a space where the arts can be administered, enjoyed and celebrated! Bass Coast Shire what are you waiting for? Let's just do it already!

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Louise
24/9/2021 06:10:29 pm

There are plenty of art locations in Bass Coast, our region is lacking in STEM ( science, technology, engineering and mathematics) facilities. There is nowhere for people to explore STEM fields which results in young people leaving the area to pursue their passion. Somewhere with powerful computers, multipurpose laboratories and a well stocked, up to date academic library would give people interested in STEM a chance to meet and learn from each other. It would also allow for workshops and lectures to be run within Bass Coast and encourage a better understanding of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in our community.

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Simone Jamieson
25/9/2021 08:59:58 am

I totally agree Louise. This is a huge space and there is so much more that could be done with it that is underrepresented in the Bass Coast. I love the idea of STEM! There's scope for education, information and fun events around different topics too like agriculture, multiculture and languages, environmental sciences, food tech, more activities for youth who aren't interested in surfing or sports. There could be gaming, robotics, film making, podcast studios.

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Rod McGregor
24/9/2021 07:04:59 pm

Sounds very good. How will the refurbishment, landscaping, site works etc be financed and running and maintenance costs covered? Not through increased rates or special charges to ratepayers I trust.

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Jill
25/9/2021 10:05:50 am

Art meets science. Could be a really interesting place for collaboration.
A bit like the Bauhaus.

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Linda Cuttriss
25/9/2021 10:15:06 am

Such a wonderful and exciting idea! Yes, please retain the buildings - along with their local heritage, memories and stories. An arts, science and community precinct that helps restore the throbbing heart of Wonthaggi and that brings together the energy and creativity of the wider Bass Coast community. A place that celebrates the co-operative history and identity of old Wonthaggi town. A place for the old, new and diverse communities of Bass Coast to thrive. A place to explore and inspire creative, cohesive and sustainable futures for the whole of Bass Coast. Is this just a pipe dream? Or is it a tangible, tantalising possibility?

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John Adam
25/9/2021 04:55:02 pm

An all embracing Arts Precinct for Wonthaggi is the opportunity of a lifetime. Suitable buildings, an ideal location, a positive vision, and the Robert Smith collection providing a sharp focus. Begin now.

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Joan Woods
25/9/2021 06:01:07 pm

Whether arts or science wins the building, libraries will be necessary. It's greast to see the building being used for community purposes.

Is it possible to provide for two libraries and to have them entered individually away from the main purpose areas so that traffic won't be impeded into those areas where the jamority of traffice will need to remain for a time.

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Andrea Lemon
25/9/2021 10:18:03 pm

All brilliant ideas. STEM is frequently re-identified as STEAM - with the A for arts as the motor room for creativity and innovation. The Hub is about ‘culture’ which includes the arts and so much more - all the thinking, doing and creating that makes us who we are - arts, science, environment, community. It is so exciting to see such enthusiasm for this idea. Talk with your local councillor to help bring this vision to life

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Kylie
27/9/2021 09:12:33 am

This sounds like a very exciting project. As a fine art photographer, residing in Wonthaggi, I would be over the moon for the opportunity to rent a studio in an arts precinct. The live music aspect is also very exciting.

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Philippa Armstrong
27/9/2021 11:08:05 am

I would love to see this space integrate STEM and creative industries technology as well as studio spaces - that would be fantastic and has great potential for skilling up young people for high growth industry areas, such as games development. There is a fabulous and successful example of this in Warrnambool at the old Fletcher Jones factory which got up and running just a few years ago. One Day Studios (https://www.onedaystudios.org.au/home) is a digital media and makerspace that teaches creative projects, from acting and animation to illustration, filmmaking, writing and manufacturing, and shows young people pathways into working in the creative industries. They run workshops for local schools and their programs are in high demand from surrounding area and small towns in the broader region.

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Ben Cavender
27/9/2021 02:59:57 pm

This would endlessly contribute to our culture for decades to come. It would also compliment the local hospitality strip and be located across from the YES Youth Hub.

Brilliant idea

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Michael Nugent
29/9/2021 10:04:26 am

Such a fantastic vison already emerging from the comments and article - some quotes: our cultural heart, multiple uses, arts, science, environment, community groups, education, library, information, fun events, creative industries, collaboration, co-operative history, live music, innovation, multiculture and languages, walkable lanes, craft market, residencies ... talk with your local councillor to help bring this vision to life.

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Carolyn Goldberg link
2/10/2021 10:43:13 pm

An excellent opportunity to be grasped with both hands, a regional art gallery and art precinct to complement Wonthaggi's thriving life in theatre and music will further enrich our lives.

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Mark Patterson
6/10/2021 06:54:21 pm

I was wondering what the council are doing to address homelessness in our area. This building (or part of) could be used for crisis accommodation.

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Leanne Martin
7/10/2021 03:47:49 am

I have a photographic collection of about 1000 film cameras and accessories looking for a permanent exhibition space if this building gets up and running....
Collection includes workable darkroom kit for use by photogs

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Rhonda De Stefano
7/10/2021 02:00:30 pm

This is a really good plan!

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Martin Davies link
5/11/2021 01:09:10 pm

I've been coming to Inverloch and surrounds for 61 years and this is the best idea I've ever heard of related to the development of the area. There would be unique synergies between the Library, the arts and musical centre and the new Country Universities' Centre in Wonthaggi. Has enormous potential.

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