A fundraiser in Barwon Heads on  Saturday 16 raised $10,787 to equip the Bellarine’s New Arts & Community Hub with everything it needs to help local arts and community grow and thrive.

 The Barwon Heads Hall was built in 1934 but on the Saturday over 100 people got it rocking to great Australian rock, R&B, funk and blues tunes as part of a Barwon Heads Arts Council fundraiser to equip the newest venue in town – the Barwon Heads Arts & Community Hub which has been built on the old kindergarten site in Clifford Parade, Barwon Heads.

 The Barwon Heads Arts & Community Hub is architecturally designed by local firm Four18 Architects, opened in June and is managed by volunteer group, the Barwon Heads Arts Council. The City of Greater Geelong provided the land and $427,00 for the project, partnering with a $1 million Victorian Government grant to complete the Hub.  The Hub will focus on supporting regional creative talent and improving access to the arts.   The new building has 3 programmable spaces and a Makers Shed but is currently empty and needs to be equipped for purpose.

 The Bash Big Band kicked off the fundraiser with an 11 piece band made up from a group of talented local musicians from Barwon Heads, The Bellarine and Geelong and all funds raised go towards equipping the Barwon Heads Arts & Community Hub with everything from art hanging systems, art tables and supplies, to IT equipment and more – so that the Hub is set to be a new and much needed ‘clubhouse’ for the arts community & local community groups on The Bellarine.

A very big Thank you to everyone who came along on the night and to the businesses who supported our fundraising Nikole Ramsay – Photography, Liz McGrath – Illustration and Design, Elephant Bridge Hotel, Alison Fincher – Artist, Moti – Clothing & Homewares, Symons Organic Dairy, Sunbakers Bakery, Rigby’s Homewares, 13th Beach Health Services, Dorothy Johnston – Author, Barwon Heads Wine Store, McGlashan Premium Wines, Bash Big Band.