Capacity increase sought for new arts hub

BARWON Heads Arts Council is seeking an increased capacity for the town’s newly built arts hub to better cater for its demand in the local community.

The arts council is the lease holder of the Barwon Heads Arts Hub, and has applied with the City of Greater Geelong to triple the site’s permitted capacity.

BHAC says the present limit of 33 people using the facility limits its ability to generate enough income to maintain the site on behalf of the local community.

“The site has been operation as an arts and community hub since August 2022 and as a result it has been recognised that the above conditions limit the efficient and effective use of the public investment that has been made to the building,” planning documents stated.

“The Barwon Heads Arts Council is a not-for-profit community organisation run by a volunteer management committee.

“The current restrictions on numbers and hours of operation significantly limits community use and resulting hire income which is necessary to cover the management, maintenance and operational expense related to the buildings new use as an arts and community hub.”

The proposal would enable up to 100 people to use the facility at once, though that capacity is expected to be reached rarely.

General operation is proposed to include up to 40 people plus 20 in the makers shed at the rear of the site.

Opening hours would extend to 8am-10pm Monday to Saturday and an earlier closing time of 6pm on Sunday.

A new permit would also need to waive requirement for 21 additional parking spaces that would usually be required for the increased capacity.

Barwon Heads Arts Hub finished construction mid-last year following a $1 million investment from the state government to build the site at 5-5A Clifford Parade, at a former kindergarten site managed by the city.

Since opening, the hub has hosted activities such as art classes and various community meetings and activities, but not private functions.

The city is advertising the new proposal until August 25.