Wednesday, 26 February 2020

Warragul’s creative network will be taken to the next level as part of a new project transforming regional Victoria backed by the Andrews Labor Government.

Parliamentary Secretary for Creative Industries and Member for Eastern Victoria, Harriet Shing MP today announced a $39,800 grant from the new Regional Coworking Spaces and Creative Places program to The MAST in Warragul, that will support a dynamic new project to benefit local creatives and the broader community.

The organisation’s lead advocate said the grant will support The MAST to renovate its Coworking Space, a multi-disciplined creative space for local up-and-coming artists. Once completed, the site will house a workshop space, the region’s first podcast/vlog room, private room desk hire, affordable gallery space, regular workshops, community art projects and pop-up music gigs.

Managed by Creative Victoria, the Regional Coworking Spaces and Creative Places program is a pilot initiative that will support organisations across regional Victoria to establish new creative hubs or breathe life into creative sites for the benefit of practitioners, local communities and visitors.

The MAST is one of 13 regional organisations that will share in $831,211 in funding through the new program.

Other projects supported in the round include the transformation of a former service station in Beaufort into a creative and community space and a project transforming a slipway shed in Lakes Entrance into a gallery and coworking space.

For a full list of projects across Victoria supported through the Regional Coworking Spaces and Creative Places program, visit creative.vic.gov.au/news.

Quotes attributable to Parliamentary Secretary for Creative Industries and Member for Eastern Victoria, Harriet Shing MP

“Congratulations to The MAST on this innovative project that will assist local creatives to hone skills in digital technologies and build their businesses – making a vital contribution to the creative and cultural life of Warragul.”

“With this latest support from the Andrews Labor Government, our state’s artists and creative practitioners will be supported with all the space, skills and facilities they need to take their careers to the next level, representing the talent and innovation Victoria prides itself on.”

“Our Government is backing regional Victoria to establish vibrant creative hubs that not only have the power to support creative professionals with jobs, skills and facilities, but to strengthen local economies and communities.”