By Lachlan Ellis<\/p>\n
Two years on from its \u2018Dare to Dream\u2019 exhibition, a local arts group is still dreaming of a permanent home for the arts community, despite suffering setbacks along the way.<\/p>\n
Over the past few years, BMAC (Bacchus Marsh Arts Community) Gallery has moved from a donated space in the Village Shopping Centre, then to the old Bacchus Marsh Ambulance Station, before that was auctioned off in early 2021.<\/p>\n
Since then the group has been without a permanent home, but not for a lack of trying \u2013 the small committee of six knuckled down with the help of Shaun Woodhouse and his architect friend Owen Meade, both working pro bono, in a project to secure the 185-year-old goods shed at the Bacchus Marsh Station as the group\u2019s new home.<\/p>\n
The two-year journey has included hundreds of emails, Zoom meetings throughout the COVID pandemic, phone calls and contact with V\/Line, VicTrack, local politicians, Moorabool Shire Council, and Regional Arts Victoria.<\/p>\n
The group received a written commitment from VicTrack that a full feasibility report, without a request for VicTrack financing, would earn the group their long-awaited new home.<\/p>\n
But despite a grant from the Bacchus Marsh Community Bank Branch, and support from then-Member of the Victorian Legislative Council Andy Meddick, BMAC Gallery\u2019s committee feels their plans have hit a bit of a brick wall.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause we\u2019re a volunteer organisation, we can only pay minimal rent. We\u2019ve approached so many empty buildings, there\u2019s just no interest from anyone to support us, which in a way I can understand because they own the properties\u2026but because there\u2019s so much empty out there, it\u2019s disappointing,\u201d BMAC Gallery\u2019s Secretary Bev Baker told the Moorabool News.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve had a lot of frustrations along the way. The goods shed is a wonderful old shed, we had a big project there at one point when Andy Meddick was in office. We had very good prospects of getting money from the State Government, it\u2019s over a $1 million project, so it\u2019s not something we could just do with a fundraiser. The plans we have drawn up for the goods shed are fantastic, but it seems no-one really wants to help us.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been two years, and we still haven\u2019t got definitive responses or answers\u2026we get handballed pillar to post.\u201d<\/p>\n
The passing of Mr Woodhouse at the age of just 52 last July, and Andy Meddick not being re-elected at the 2022 state election, both \u201ctook the wind out of BMAC\u2019s sails\u201d, but Ms Baker says the group remains committed to finding a home for Bacchus Marsh\u2019s arts community.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust a premises of any sort would be good, we\u2019d be happy to go into a six-month agreement or something. We just need someone to help us get started again. We won\u2019t give up on BMAC Gallery being an entity, but it seems it won\u2019t be the grand plan that we thought we might be able to pull off,\u201d Ms Baker said.<\/p>\n
The group intends to gather the names of interested people for a \u2018Register of Interest\u2019, and will once again be holding its Teapot Exhibition in September.<\/p>\n
Another exhibition in October will welcome the new life of spring, with a venue to be hired if the group still doesn\u2019t have a permanent home by then.<\/p>\n
Other ideas if a suitable venue is found include a Sip and Paint function, a visit by a noted guest artist, a \u2018Boots and Bags\u2019 exhibition, and of course, exhibitions for local artists to show and sell their work.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By Lachlan Ellis Two years on from its \u2018Dare to Dream\u2019 exhibition, a local arts group is still dreaming of a permanent home for the arts community, despite suffering setbacks along the way. Over the past few years, BMAC (Bacchus Marsh Arts Community) Gallery has moved from a donated space in the Village Shopping Centre, […]<\/p>\n