For the president of Textures of One Penny May, the announcement that the group has received $47,820 to fund 52 weeks of creativity is a dream come true, and one that she feels has fulfilled the late Loretta Kervin's vision for PLATFORM as well.
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"This was what we wanted from when we began in 2016, a dedicated space for the community where anyone can come with any creative idea and find support and a place to do it in," she said.
The group has received the funding from the Foundation for Regional and Rural Renewal to help tackle the challenges that drought-affected communities across Australia continue to face.
Almost one half of the funding will go towards employing a part-time arts hub manager who will be on-site two days a week to help establish the centre, take bookings and help organise the numerous events that are planned.
"We have a limited number of volunteers available and volunteer fatigue is a real thing," Penny said.
"To make this work we need a dedicated manager that will look after it."
Ms May said that in order to gain the funding the group put together a calendar of events that would see everything from pop-up shops to book launches as part of what would be happening at the site.
"There will be 10 major exhibitions, quarterly artist networking nights, creative workshops, artisan markets and regular music events," she said.
Not only is the space just for major events, even the smallest group or individual can participate.
"If some kids want to start a band they can book a room and rehearse, we can run yoga classes or quilting groups," she said.
As Sydney Trains puts the finishing touches to the building including interpretive signs, the goal is to have the first exhibition in March of 2021.
"It will be the first Textures of One exhibition in its own building," she said.
To help get the ball rolling Penny is looking for committee members, volunteers and art groups that would like to get involved in PLATFORM.
There will be a tour and get together at the station for anyone who would like to join the Platform committee this Saturday at 10.30.
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Mark Logan
Started working in newspapers in the 1990's in the darkroom of the Pastoral Times in Deniliquin before moving to Millthorpe in 2003. Soon after arriving I started as a photographer at the CWD. Now a journalist at the Blayney Chronicle.
Started working in newspapers in the 1990's in the darkroom of the Pastoral Times in Deniliquin before moving to Millthorpe in 2003. Soon after arriving I started as a photographer at the CWD. Now a journalist at the Blayney Chronicle.
