MODULAR tiered seating to accommodate 90 people will help Dubbo's Western Plains Cultural Centre (WPCC) turn a studio in its community arts centre into a multi-purpose facility.
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A total of $120,000 has been pledged to the project, with $60,000 coming in the form of a NSW government grant and the same amount from the coffers of Dubbo City Council.
Deputy Premier and Arts Minister Troy Grant yesterday released details of the program, which will see $385,000 spent on 10 different projects across the state.
The projects are being funded on a dollar-for-dollar basis with local organisations under the NSW government's Regional Capital program, which supports capital works projects and equipment used for arts and cultural purposes.
"Arts and cultural facilities are the lifeblood of many regional communities, providing opportunities for people to engage with a range of art forms and local history," Mr Grant said.
The Dubbo project, which is slated for completion in early September will see an old science class room on the Gipps Street side of the cultural centre transformed into a venue that can host intimate shows while at the same time keeping its current occupants.
An application for the funding had been made in the latter months of 2015 and WPCC manager Andrew Glassop said it was a major boost for the growing facility.
"What we hope is that the project will allow us to use that facility much more efficiently and provide an alternative to the Dubbo Regional Theatre and Convention Centre.
"The idea came about from a person inquiring about doing solo poetry readings of some great poems. That probably isn't going to draw in 500 people which the theatre accommodates so we give that option as well as for experimental and avant garde performances.
"The modular tiered seating means that we can also return the room to a flat floor and accommodate the usage that we have at the moment, which sees the room used about three to four times a week.''
"We're really excited by it and it's terrific to see such recognition and levels of investment in the arts."
Dubbo's grant was the highest of the 10 projects funded, and was matched by identical investment for the New England Regional Art Museum at Armidale and the Morundah Arts Centre.
Orange City Council also received $54,500 for refurbishment of the Orange Regional Gallery.
