$1.5 Million For Civic Centre

The Cowra Civic Centre will receive another $1.5 million in upgrades to improve its auditorium, in what is a huge coup to the Cowra community.

NSW Minister for Arts, Ben Franklin, travelled to Cowra on Sunday to make the announcement, at the end of the Winter Wanderlust Recovery Breakfast and Artisan Markets at the Civic Centre.

The funding was awarded under the State Government’s Creative Capital funding program, which was created to support arts infrastructure across NSW.

The funding will be used to renovate the main auditorium of the Civic Centre, including the removal of the existing disability access ramps that run through the middle of the revenue and relocating them to run around the sides of it.

Works will also involve the levelling of the main floor and the installation of 324 retractable seats that can be moved out into the auditorium when needed, and re-tracted back when not needed.

The funding comes after it was announced at the start of the year that the venue would also receive around $300,000 to make improvements to its upstairs cinema theatre and its bathrooms.

Cowra Civic Centre Manager Jonathan Llewellyn, who has now been made permanent in his position, said it was a huge achievement for the venue. “The new seats will be extremely comfortable, coming in at around $2000 each, and some will be extra wide - about 700mm - for patrons that seats need extra support,” he said.

Cowra Mayor Bill West said the project would increase “community capacity” in Cowra, with the Civic Centre being a crucial venue for shows in town, and bringing local people together.

“It will enhance our Civic Square, which also features the Art Gallery, Library and Peace Bell,” he said.

“I’d like to thank our local Member Steph Cooke for all of her support in getting this project over the line for Cowra.”

Works associated with the $1.5 million funding are expected to commence sometime next year, with works covered by the initial $300,000 grant expected to start by the end of this year.

• Topics:
• Arts and Media
• Performing Arts
• Grant / Funding