Lismore mayor Jenny Dowell is not at all happy at the city’s gallery having missed out on Regional Development Australia (RDA) funding in its most recent round earlier this year and is still keen to see the redevelopment of the Lismore Regional Gallery.
The council has come up with a novel way to back the project, which would see the gallery moved to the restored site of the old Lismore High School.
Council’s $4 million contribution to the project has so far been largely in kind but it needs to find some cash to show the RDA it is serious – and in true crowd funding style it has called on the community to kick in.
This weekend Lismore Regional Gallery will launch a major six week community campaign called Pledge Now for Lismore Quadrangle campaign, which was developed by Friends of Lismore Regional Gallery.
‘We have six weeks to develop a persuasive application for funding from Regional Development Australia to relocate the gallery to the Lismore Quadrangle where it would find a natural home alongside the Conservatorium and Lismore Library,’ gallery director Brett Adlington said.
At tomorrow’s launch mayor Dowell, Mr Adlington, Dr Andrew Binns and several other community members will make public pledges to the Lismore Regional Gallery Building Fund, which already sits at $60,000.
A large sign on the front of the current gallery building will track the progress of pledges over the next six weeks.
‘As part of this vision, the old C Block building will be redeveloped to house the gallery and Arts Northern Rivers, with active spaces to hold a cocktail of creative experiences as well as hot-desking spaces for regional creative industries practitioners,’ Mr Adlington said.
‘The centre of the Quadrangle will also be redeveloped with grassed areas to create a “town square” where a variety of creative programs could take place. It’s a win-win for everyone if we can secure this funding – but the application has to show strong community support. We need people to make pledges and show the RDA that Lismore really wants this.’
The project would mean increased exhibition space, climate controlled and flood free storage and display spaces, an outdoor children’s activity area and a space to show films, host music and have artist events.
‘We are taking a very pragmatic approach to this, through the reuse of existing facilities and considering the needs of this community,’ he added.
The next RDA funding application will be due by late May/early June and Lismore Regional Gallery is calling on Lismore to rally and show their support by making a pledge. The pledges will only be called upon if Lismore City Council is successful in gaining external funding and all donations will be tax deductible.
‘Even if you can only give $5 – the more pledges we can show the stronger our case looks,’ he said.
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