A new art gallery and arts hub is due to open in Imbil by year’s end after Gympie Council agreed to lease vacant council land next door to Imbil Library for the project.
The new arts hub will be built on vacant land next door to Imbil Library. PHOTO: Vivienne Wynter
Mary Valley Artslink President, Heinke Butt, said Art on Yabba would house a 6m by 15m fine arts gallery and a 6m by 4m undercover area for meetings, workshops or a studio for artist-in-residence projects.
Ms Butt said the arts hub aimed to support the arts as a viable industry in the Mary Valley.
Mary Valley Artslink President Heinke Butt PHOTO: supplied
‘Engagement with the arts enriches the lives of regional Australians and creates stronger, healthier and more cohesive communities,’ said Ms Butt.
‘Arts and cultural hubs help artists outside big cities realise their dream to take their practice to a new level.’
The gallery and arts hub will exhibit, support and involve established and emerging artists including names like Pat Cale, Archibald finalist Brent Harvey, Jandamarra Cadd, Pam Hopkins, Joolie Gibbs, Vicki Bennett and Don Milner.
Gympie Regional Councillor for Division 8, Gordon Maudsley, is an enthusiastic supporter of the project, which had an 18-month lead time.
Cr Maudsley shepherded the arts hub through planning and development stages of council and other levels of government.
Division 8 Councillor Gordon Maudsley has supported the Imbil Arts Hub project. PHOTO: supplied
‘The Mary Valley is a special place and the arts are a window to who we are in this region. The new art gallery and arts hub will be a fantastic drawcard to the area,’ Cr Maudsley said.
‘It will be a great attraction for Imbil and will bring people together and showcase our diverse community.’
Gympie Mayor Glen Hartwig said council was proud to support the new art gallery and arts hub.
‘Construction of a community-led, designed and managed arts space will contribute to a thriving arts sector and enhance cultural tourism to the area,’ Mayor Hartwig said.
Ms Butt said the new building would be purpose-built to encourage collaboration, innovation and productivity.
She said the Yabba Creek bank behind the arts hub would link to the unfenced creek banks behind Imbil library and the RSL, providing an unbroken outdoor area with a beautiful visual outlook for community events and gatherings.
The new arts hub will share a section of Yabba Creek bank with the library and the RSL. PHOTO: Vivienne Wynter
‘It’s all council land and our understanding is that council is long term planning for an arts and cultural precinct encompassing the arts hub, the library and the RSL,’ Ms Butt said.
‘In the meantime, the new gallery will be open to the public Thursday to Sunday so the space will be available for different community uses on the other days.’
Ms Butt said the arts hub would be built with support from council, Queensland Hydro, Bendigo Bank and the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal.
