Million-dollar makeover

THE newly developed Barwon Heads Arts and Community Hub (BHAC) has been unveiled along with a five-month timeline of events for its integration into the region.

The $1 million rebuild of the former kindergarten site on Clifford Parade into a communal space for artists and community members was funded by Regional Development Victoria off the back of a 2018 election commitment from the Andrews Government.

“My last memory of seeing this building was when it was ’60s brick and pretty derelict,” Bellarine MP Lisa Neville said at last week’s opening.

Designed by Geelong-based company Four18 Architects and built by another Geelong-based company, Plan Group, the hub refurbishment incorporated the defunct former kindergarten building on the site and created a new outdoor space and upgraded parking facilities.

The hub now provides space to support all local artists from the visual arts, to music, drama, theatre, dance, poetry and literature.

“There was a bit of a push of ‘let’s just knock it down and make it a carpark’… luckily some people in the community had a different vision (and) could see the potential to repurpose this and bring it to life,” Ms Neville said.

“It’s gone past certainly my expectations of what I imagined I’d come find today.”

Barwon Heads Arts and Community president Vicki Strachan said in 2018 the community had given up hope of creating such a space, before the intervention of Ms Neville who suggested the former kindergarten site.

“We’re talking a decade of work.

“We picked up the keys two weeks ago and we’re a little light on for art and activity, but we have
big plans.”

With projected expenses for the first year of the hub’s operation of about $20,000, the hub is now seeking membership to assist with its resourcing and management ahead of a big band fundraiser in July.

“And to reach the full potential of your spending, we really will need a paid venue manger,” Ms Strachan said.

An art exhibition in August will accompany a community open day to celebrate the arrival of the facility and from September people will be able to start booking access there via the BHAC website.

The hub will cement itself within the region’s arts community with the Bellarine Arts Trail launch and exhibition on October 22, before the trail kicking off at the end of the month.

For more information, head to bhac.org.au