Hi friends,
The above grant is a once in a lifetime opportunity to create something wonderful in Armidale.
The minimum Grant is $5 million and the Maximum is $50 million.
This Commonwealth Project clearly wants to see the creation of meaningful and lasting partnerships as well as bricks and mortar precincts.
The partnerships can include both not for profit and for profit entities. In this application the not for profit and for profit entities would be partners and each have a seat on the managing board while the property would be vested in Armidale Live, which already has a constitution that is fit for purpose and provides a safeguard into the future.
Armidale Live inc is a registered charity with tax deductability status and has started a submission for a grant which does not commit the partners to anything at this stage.
Have no illusions, the competition for funds will be strong.
However the emphasis from the funding body clearly favours strong partnerships and meaningful precincts that will build stronger communities.
At this point the list below contains partners that are committed to the vision of the Precinct
Partners in the Precinct and Partnerships Program
* means for profit business
| Partner | Confirmed | Vision Statement | Contact |
| Aboriginal Cultural Centre & Keeping Place | Y | Y | Rose Lovelock |
| New England Conservatorium Of Music | Waiting | Julie and Corrine | |
| New England Regional Art Museum | Y | Rachel | |
| University of New England | Waiting | Jo Scanlon | |
| Armidale Drama and Musical Society | Y | Neil Horton | |
| Boobooks* | Y | Y | Yvonne Langenberg |
| Granny Fi’s Toy Cupboard* | Y | Beattie | |
| Armidale Regional Council | Y | Renate | |
| The Print Gallery* | Y | Lizzie Horn | |
| New England Art Society | Y | Tess | |
| Firebirds Choir | Y | Chris Purcell | |
| Musicians of Armidale | y | Mark | |
| The Readers Companion* | Y | Michelle | |
| High Country Theatre | Y | Gordon Cope | |
| Saturday Magic Theatre | Y | Margaret Kennedy | |
| Renew Armidale | Y | Garry Slocombe | |
| The Bach Festival | Y | Benjamin Thorn | |
| New England Family Support Service | Waiting | Anne Rix | |
| Pedal Early intervention for disable children | Y | Claudia | |
| Modern Community Solutions Armidale | Y | Les Morton | |
| Quiet Space | Y | April | |
| Mad Proppa Deadly | Waiting | Nate Weatherall |
I am obliged under the grant to invite both local and state governments to join and or endorse the project and both have given strong support.
The precinct that we are proposing is an Arts, Cultural and Education precinct mostly in the Armidale Mall and others not far away.Properties under consideration for Acquisition
* means already publicly owned
| 5 Moore St Courthouse 143-145 Beardy St Armidale* |
| ACCKP 94-104 Kentucky St Armidale* |
| Masonic 147 Faulkner St Armidale |
| Commbank 176 Beardy St Armidale |
| Taber building 122 Beardy St Armidale |
| Mall Arcade 20 Moore St Armidale |
| Old Westpac 139 – 141 Beardy St Armidale |
| Mojos 117 Beardy St Armidale (In Doubt) |
| Small R&M Bld 131 Beardy St Armidale |
| Wicklow Hotel 87 Marsh St Armidale (I think it is sold) |
| Womens Ref 127 Beardy St Armidale |
| 115 Beardy St Armidale Ten Tops |
| Franklins 16/108 Beardy St Armidale |
| Old Lands Department |
| 157 Beardy legal minds |
| 110 Beardy St Kebab Bikes Hippie |
| 149 – 151 Beardy St NEAS, solicitor, dry cleaner, |
The benefits to partners will be in affordable performance space, rental space and virtual spaces. All properties in the precinct will be refurbished to a professional standard that suits the new uses.
Ideas that have been mooted include:
An annual hologram festival
Competitive e-gaming events.
Technical training for lighting, audio and projection operators
Animation and game development workspace
A virtual art gallery with multiple projectors – an immersive experience
A home for PEDAL An early intervention service for children with a disability
A home for New England Family Support Service
A replacement for the Old Armidale Club
A home for Narwan
A home for High Country Theatre, Saturday Magic and Renew Armidale
Traditional art galleries
Other Arts businesses
Vision
Because of the large amounts of money on offer I believe that we are being encouraged to think broadly and not be afraid to do the things that we know need to be done to strengthen our community and transform our city centre to reflect the talent and ardour that we possess.
To make this happen we will acquire suitable real estate either in the Mall or close by and refurbish those properties to suit a new purposes in line with the precinct vision.
In order to guarantee the life of the precinct into the future we will maintain a portion of commercial tenants and use the rent to pay the bills and underwrite innovative projects.
Further income will be derived from highly subsidised rent from arts businesses and charities.
Governance:
All partners, both current and future, will be invited to join Armidale Live’s Precinct Committee to make decisions on occupancy, expansion, projects, income and expenditure.
If this project excites you please let me know by return email or simply ring me.
Signify if you want to join us as a partner. No fees required.
Add you ideas, questions or objectives.
If you or your organisation want to be a partner there will be a consequent workload and garnering of support at all possible levels
We’re in the arts; hard work comes with the territory.
As soon as I have all the responses in, I will call an open forum to affirm ideas and objectives and assign tasks.
There is no official closing date for submissions but we would like to have ours bedded down well before the end of 2024.
Should you not wish to receive further emails on this project please advise by email to gordoncopesplace@gmail.com
Regards
Gordon Cope, Rose Lovelock, Benjamin Thorn and Margaret Sims
Ph: 0403 392 531
e-mail: gordoncopesplace@gmail.com