Arts and Culture Centre Opens its Doors
BY DI SNEDDON
Creativity and curiosity have officially connected in Singleton.
NSW Minister for the Arts, Ben Franklin, was delighted to have scissors in hand in Singleton on Sunday to cut the ribbon to officially open the $4.08m Singleton Arts and Cultural Centre
With more than 300 square metres of purpose built gallery space, and two artists’ workshops including wet and digital studios, the centre will also house Singleton’s Civic Art collection.
The Singleton Arts and Cultural Centre completes Singleton’s Townhead Park precinct, which has been years in the making as a centre for tourism and community connection encompassing the Singleton Visitor Information Centre (VIC) showcasing Hunter Valley operators and products, as well as a café, playground, and children’s bike track.
The inaugural exhibitions showcase new commissions by photographer Edwina Richards and Indigenous artist Debbie Becker, each celebrating the diversity and connection of people to the Singleton area.
Speaking at the event, Mr Franklin said the NSW Government was proud to have contributed $2.8million towards this important cultural and tourism attraction.
“Art and culture are at the heart and soul of regional New South Wales and I’m delighted to be here to officially open this exciting project that will generate tourism and deliver economic benefits to the local community,” Mr Franklin said.
“After the past few years we’ve had, it’s important we enhance artistic spaces to provide creative outlets for the community to come together and experience art and culture, and this investment through the Regional Cultural Fund will enable that.”
Mayor of Singleton, Cr Sue Moore said the centre was a place for residents and visitors alike, inspiring the imagination and sparking curiosity.
“This is so much more than a gallery for paintings and sculptures, this is a space that reflects our identity as a community and celebrates the heritage and culture of the people right across our local government area.
“I cannot wait to see what the future holds for upcoming exhibitions and experiments with public art, and more importantly for what our local artists will create in the state-of-the-art studios and the inspiration that will come for a new generation of emerging artists.” The $4.08million gallery was funded in partnership between Singleton Council and a $2.787million Create NSW grant.