AFTER having moved into her Bridge Mall shopfront last year, visual artist Linda Franklin is preparing to open the site up to the public.<\/p>\n
For the past year-and-a-half, Franklin has used the space solely to run her arts workshops and therapy programs, and is set to expand the site into a multipurpose venue early next month.<\/p>\n
With a long hallway-like character, and the site\u2019s central area serving as the education space, Franklin said the venue\u2019s front area will be rife for public use.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been a private space until now,\u201d she said. \u201cWith the Bridge Mall transformation happening, now\u2019s the time for me to open the front half to the public.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019ll be open as a gallery like a shop but I\u2019ll be opening events as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
The site was acquired through Ballarat Evolve following the closure of Franklin\u2019s South Street Art Studio located in a more-than-130-year-old church which she\u2019d lived in for more than a decade.<\/p>\n
Her current space, called BRIDGE MALLed gallery, was named after a satirical newspaper poster created by a Ballarat photographer which will be on display in the venue.<\/p>\n
Since January, the site\u2019s back third has been operated by Kat Pengelly of Koshka Art Fuelled Fashion.<\/p>\n
Franklin said she expects the public aspect of BRIDGE MALLed gallery to be a welcome addition in Ballarat\u2019s arts scene.<\/p>\n
\u201cBallarat is the home of an extraordinary arts community,\u201d she said. \u201cIt has this wonderful networking feel and it\u2019s quite unique, and yet we don\u2019t have enough exhibiting spaces.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis will be for both emerging and established artists. Not every artist can have their art showing all the time, so it\u2019s about showcasing some of the many incredible talents in Ballarat.\u201d<\/p>\n
Located at 10 Bridge Mall, the site\u2019s retail and gallery space, once opened, is set to be open from 10am to 5pm on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
AFTER having moved into her Bridge Mall shopfront last year, visual artist Linda Franklin is preparing to open the site up to the public. For the past year-and-a-half, Franklin has used the space solely to run her arts workshops and therapy programs, and is set to expand the site into a multipurpose venue early next […]<\/p>\n