General News
4 March, 2024
Funding for Creative Clunes
In a massive boost for local art, Creative Clunes received nearly $7500 from VicTrack as part of their Community Grants Program. The community arts hub, residing at the Clunes Railway Station, utilises unused railway property for community events...
In a massive boost for local art, Creative Clunes received nearly $7500 from VicTrack as part of their Community Grants Program.
The community arts hub, residing at the Clunes Railway Station, utilises unused railway property for community events such as the Clunes Booktown Festival and the Clunes Ceramic Awards with the support of VicTrack.
Creative Clunes will use the funding boost to transform their hall into a small gallery exhibition experience, with the installation of more picture hanging systems and added furniture.
The grant will also be used to create a workshop space for artists looking for a retreat or added inspiration.
Creative Clunes CEO Sue Beal said she is excited for the opportunities the grant creates for her team and the community.
“The room currently doesn’t get used a lot, and there are so many artists in the goldfields who are new and emerging, so we wanted to give them somewhere they could affordably use a space,” she said.
“The Esmond Gallery at The Warehouse is the only other gallery in town, which isn’t accessible for many emerging artists — we want to create an exhibition space that any artist can use.
“We are a little bit busy at the moment planning for the booktown festival, but we have a local professional hanger of paintings who will start installing them shortly.”
The project is one of six to be funded in the most recent round of grants, with $10,000 given to the Pyrenees Art Council and the Creswick Railway Workshops Association.
The successful applicants are part of the 66 not-for-profit groups supported by the program, which has invested more than $500,000 to support community groups using unused land and buildings owned by VicTrack.
Member for Ripon Martha Haylett said she is glad to see continued support for local community groups.
“Our not-for-profit groups play such an important role in people’s lives and these VicTrack grants will ensure our rural communities can continue to reap the benefits from them,” she said.