The sky is the limit for the Tweed Unlimited Arts group at Banora Point now thanks to a State Government grant.
Member for Tweed Geoff Provest visited the group last week to officially open the new “Multi-purpose” centre. The multi-purpose centre was created in the old gallery building thanks to the grant and a lot of hard work from the group and local builders.
“The building was only used a couple of times a year because it was so hot,” group president Bev McNamara said.
“It was all done in about six weeks. It could have been done in less but we had rain all through that time.
“The building was one of the site sheds from one of the original Tweed Heads bypass and so it was built like a site shed – structurally very sound but not very user friendly. We had the roof lifted and insulation put in, whirly birds, we’ve had a new door put in for better cross-flow ventilation and we had the interior walls taken out and a front awning put on.”
She said the TUA were hoping to encourage other groups to come and join their organisation and use the facilities.
“We’ve got interest from a group of quilters and people who want to learn play the ukele – all sorts of things,” she said.
“It will basically open things up for more people in the community. It’s a community facility and that’s exactly what we want. When we started we had writers and film-makers and things like that.”
The building will still display the members work and twice a year will become a full gallery space again for the open days or for people in the group to have exhibitions.
“We just thought it was such a waste with it just sitting here because it was so hot or so cold and not being used,” she said.
There are about 200 people coming to TUA each week already with a lot belonging to a few groups.
And there are more plans for expansion.
“We would really like there to be night classes,” she laughed.
