Help needed for new arts hub

BARWON Heads Arts Council is calling for volunteers to help run the town’s new community hub, which is expected to be up and running by mid-year.

Local artists are eagerly anticipating their long-awaited Barwon Heads Arts and Community Hub but say they must replenish their volunteer workforce that has been impacted by COVID-19 in order to deliver the range of services that the community has envisaged.

Arts Council president Vicki Strachan said the volunteer-run facility needed more helping hands for when it throws open the doors to the new hub.

“We’ve got to build up our volunteer base again after COVID. It’s going to be fantastic, but it’s just going to take a little bit of time to get going,” she said.

“There’ll be all sorts of positions available; booking coordinator, volunteer co-ordinator, someone to manage the building, all sorts of great tasks that we’ll need to allocate.

“Everyone’s volunteering their time to make this work and to get some momentum going to get people involved and bring their skills.”

Construction timelines remain volatile due to COVID-19 impacts, but the Arts Council expects to move into their new facility in the first half of this year.

The project will redevelop the site of a former kindergarten at Clifford Parade into a communal space for the local community and artists, supporting the industry and the region’s creative talent.

It includes renovations of the existing building to include three programable rooms, a studio space, a standalone makers space for arts and crafts, upgrades to parking facilities and outdoor gathering and landscaped areas.

Builders are back on site following a Christmas break, and are on track to complete the building’s timber frame and install its roof and fittings.