Our 11th AGM was held on 22 August 2024.

Here is Libby Darcy’s President’s Report from the night.

 Barwon Heads Arts & Community Hub – “A Club House for the Arts”

 Welcome everyone and let us acknowledge this place we’re meeting in tonight, not the building, but the land, sea and sky – this place – which inspires our creative community and is the place of the traditional owners, the Wadawurrung people.

 I’d like to begin with a huge thank you to everyone who has helped transform the building we’re in, The Barwon Heads Arts & Community Hub, into the ‘Club House for the Arts’ that we were hoping it could become.

Now, like the sporting clubs, creatives have a place in Barwon Heads and the Bellarine to do their thing, show their talents hang out and engage with their supporters who get to participate and enjoy.  Please take a moment to refer to the long Thank You list attached to your meeting papers and thank you to everyone who helped us to realise our Vision.  In a recent strategy planning session with the BHAC committee we reflected on just how far we’ve come and how we’ve stayed true to our Vision and Achieved Goals set for 2023/2024 (Please refer to BHAC Strategic Plan on bhac.org.au).

Our Focus in 2023/2024

We put our energy into rolling out another successful Bellarine Arts Trail.  And we worked on activating this (the Arts Hub) creative space – developing administration and financial processes as well as working to build a sustainable management model to support the growing demand for use of the Arts Hub.   This included beginning a trial paid role for an Arts Hub Coordinator / BHAC administrator (20 hours a week) which is being carried out by Vicki Strachan (thank you Vicki for taking this role on top of your volunteer commitment on the committee).   This role concludes in June 2024 and an analysis report will inform how we proceed with management of the Arts Hub model in 2024/2025.

The Committee

I want to acknowledge the incredible hands-on work of the BHAC committee for providing the ‘staff’ the Arts Hub needed in its initial growth phase to kick it off.   And we look forward to moving the Committee into a more strategic advisory role going forward so that it continues as a sustainable volunteer commitment.

The following is a snapshot of some of our activities in 2023/2024

Activities Snapshot

  • Bellarine Arts Trail – promoting the work of 80+ artists (and this year more than 90) across the Bellarine to visitors. A big thank you to BHAC committee member Kaz Shirley who coordinated the event again in 2023.  In the 2023/2024 financial year we began preparation for the 2024 event, with a new model – setting up an artist led arts trail committee supported by BHAC administration to take on the coordination role. We welcome this year as Major sponsor – Barwon Heads Community Bank Bendigo Bank as well as the Borough of Queenscliffe and support from Queenscliff Community Market.

 

  • The Permit Change for the Arts Hub – preparation of planning documentation and consultation with stakeholders to successfully amend our COGG operating permit – it was approved in December 2023 to allow for increased numbers and evening use.  This has resulted in a doubling of enquiries. We’ve managed 137 individual bookings at the Arts Hub in the 6 months to June 2024 and welcomed over 5000 visitors.

During the month of June 2024, we managed 198 hours of community use.  Community groups – 84 hours (43%), arts/exhibitions – 96 hours (48%) and business use – 18 hours (9%).

The permit change allowed for evening use which has included groups such as: Barwon Heads Chorale and the Fine Music Society who also brought the wonderful addition of the piano to the Arts Hub.  ****We have a fundraiser taking place this Saturday for a Grand Piano with concert pianist Mark Kruger and opera singer Sally Wilson – please see our website for deets.

Engagement / Arts Hub Community

 We have worked closely with our community to encourage the development of artist workshops and exhibitions.

  • Exhibitions – a growing art exhibition program with exhibitions open to the public for 18 Fridays/weekends this year.
  • Recent Evening Users – Bellarine School of Art, Arts Hub Photography Group, Bellarine Arts Trail Committee, Barwon Heads Arts Council, Barwon Heads Association, Bendigo Bank and we also have yoga classes.
  • Regular Users – of the Arts Hub over the past 12 months – Arts Hub Drawing Circle, Arts Hub Writers Group, Arts Hub Creative Gardeners, Barwon Heads Arts Council, Bellarine Arts Trail Committee, Barwon Heads Fine Music Society, Barwon Heads Chorale, Barwon Heads Primary School, Barwon Coast, Barwon Heads Association, Dallas Cronwright Artist, Patsy Bush Printmaker, Bec Leppinus, Molly Hyndman, Moti Clothing Lauren Goonan 
  • Other Users – Bendigo Bank, Lizzie Bohan/Bronwyn Minifie,Collage Workshops, ArtIs Exhibition – Patsy Bush, Alix Bradfield Book Launch, Lara Hibble ,Alice Bell ceramics, Alison Fincher/Pat McKenzie Easter exhibition, Geelong Sculptors, Sheena Mathieson, Cassy Twomey, Destination Accessible, Lon Retreat, Leonardo McLaren Exhibition, Bellarine School of Art, Anita Show Macrame, Julie Armstrong-Carigg, Rachel King, Mary Baddeley, Dorothy Johnston
  • Equipment – purchases included: New Ipad, medium sized urn, sound system (Uniting Church), new hanging frames, bamboo poles & flags.

Where to Now?

This is a new arts hub model for the Bellarine, operating without major grants or government funding support.   This asset provides the arts with an opportunity to have our own ‘ground’ backed by our community.  We’re still finding our way, but we hope to bring more of the same in the coming year.

Thank you everyone for being part of this and coming along tonight.