Funding booster for Coast arts as the Conservatorium secures additional $80K towards refurbishment

The Honourable Don Harwin, Minister for the Arts, has announced that the Central Coast Conservatorium of Music (CCCM) has been successful in securing an additional $80K funding towards the ongoing refurbishment of their heritage-listed Gosford premises. 

 

The Arts Minister – who was joined by member for Terrigal Adam Crouch – made his announcement from the courthouse cellblock that forms part of CCCM’s site. 

 

The Conservatorium currently operates out of the oldest heritage listed building on the Coast, a collection of de-mountables and a host of halls, rooms and venues all over the Coast made available through churches and community groups. 

 

Claire Braund, Chair of the CCCM Building Committee, said the announcement of $80,000 in additional funding for the building program at the Conservatorium was very welcome. 

 

“It has been a significant challenge to upgrade our wonderful heritage building and make it fit for the purposes of teaching and performing music,” said Ms Braund. 

 

“This $80,000 will enable us to build a clear roof over our courtyard that meets structural and heritage requirements, improves usability of the space and creates something very special in the oldest part of our building, ” she continued. 

 

Ms Braund thanked the NSW Government, the Arts Minister Don Harwin MLC and Member for Terrigal and Party Whip Adam Crouch for their continuing assistance and support for the Conservatorium and its building project. 

 

She also commended the many local businesses that had worked on the building, in particular builders Buterin L’Estrange who are working tirelessly to bring the project to completion. 

 

Stage 1 of the refurbishment project is all but complete, with some work to be done on the Robert Knox Hall, while the DA for stage 2 was granted in late April.