The ACT Government has committed $9 million for the new Belconnen Arts and Cultural Centre to be built on the Ginninderra Lake foreshore, adjacent to the Town Centre.
The funding will allow for design work to be finalised and also for the construction of stage one to begin in 2008. The Centre will support a wide range of community events, the arts and the cultural needs of the Belconnen community.
Significant planning has already been undertaken towards the development of the Centre and input has been provided by organisations such as BANANA, the Belconnen and Northern Arts Network ACT, who have made important contributions to the project and were instrumental in recommending the lakeshore site.
Jan Wawrzynczak, the Belconnen Community Arts and Cultural Officer, a position funded by the ACT Government, has been actively involved in the planning and working with many of the groups who will either be tenants or hirers of the new Centre.
"This is great news. It will be a fantastic facility for those involved in the arts in Belconnen," exclaimed Mr Wawrzynczak when local member Mary Porter told him about the Chief Minister's announcement in the budget.
"It will become a centre of excellence for the whole community" Mr Wawrzynczak continued. "It will cater for all aspects of the arts and will include performance space, galleries, workshops as well as being a meeting place. I am sure it will become a real hub for Belconnen residents."
"I have been involved with members of the Belconnen arts community for many years," Mary Porter said, " and this is without doubt the most exciting news the arts community in this region has ever received."
"We are fortunate to have many very talented artists in the region and to have such a facility will only serve to nurture and enhance their work," Mary Porter added.
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