Northern Rivers creative spaces reopen, realising renovation dreams after floods

A heritage art gallery in Ulmarra and a Creative and Performing Arts Centre in Lismore have recently reopened following post-flood renovations, both supported by Create NSW.

These are just two out of 58 projects supported through the jointly-funded Federal and NSW Government’s Community Local Infrastructure Recovery Package (CLIRP) in flood-affected regions across NSW. 

REDinc Performing Arts Centre reopens in Lismore

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Realise Every Dream (REDInc) celebrated a major milestone officially reopening REDinc's Visual, Creative and Performing Arts Centre of Lismore on Thursday 2 May 2024.

REDinc provides a comprehensive range of personalised and group disability services, including disability support, employment support, creative arts, and social and recreation activities.

“We are thrilled to be opening our new Performing Arts Centre, which has been a long time in the making,” Marie Gale, REDinc CEO said. 

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“This greatly reimagined space enables REDinc to expand its performing arts program, including dance, drama, performance choir and music.”

Funding through the CLIRP Arts and Culture Priority Needs Program supported the project to deliver a fully-accessible creative space for people with varied abilities, adjacent to REDInc’s Art Studio at Magellan Street, Lismore. 

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With a music studio, dance space and drama space for performing arts, exhibition hanging systems and display shelving for visual art as well as kitchen, bathrooms, and air conditioning, the renovation project has created a welcoming and accessible space.

Coldstream Gallery reopens in Ulmarra

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In the northern NSW community of Ulmarra, the heritage Coldstream Gallery hosted a reopening event and welcomed a stream of visitors throughout April 2024 to celebrate works by local artists in a much-loved annual exhibition.

Gallery visitors were also able to appreciate the stunning timber floors and other improvements in its Black Gallery exhibition space, officially reopening after the completion of post-flooding repair works. Coldstream received funding through the CLIRP Arts and Culture Essential Community Asset Program (ECAP Arts) to restore flooring and repair electrical services which were extensively damaged during the floods.

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This important community arts venue reopened its doors just in time to host the annual ‘Our Clarence’ Art Prize Exhibition as part of the Clarence Valley Plunge Art and Cultural Festival. The art prize invites local artists to share works inspired by the beauty and richness of the Clarence Valley, demonstrating the deep connection between artists and their environment.