Saturday, 4 March 2023
The completion of restoration works at the new Warren Museum and Art Gallery have been celebrated today thanks to the hard work of locals and more than $3 million from the former Coalition Government’s Building Better Regions Fund.
Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton today attended the official opening of the Warren Museum and Art Gallery and was impressed by the quality of the restoration works achieved.
“I’m pleased to be here today to see this wonderful heritage building restored and ready to function as a centre for art and history in the town of Warren,” Mr Coulton said.
“The Building Better Regions Fund was set up for the purpose of building up our rural towns and increasing their strength for the future. The use of these funds to create this beautiful museum and art gallery will boost the appeal of Warren, bringing in tourism and attracting more people to this area.
“The Warren Museum and Art Gallery Association have done a first-class job with this funding, worked hard to raise even more on their own, and should be proud of the outcome we see today.
“The creativity and hard work of local groups like the Warren Museum and Art Gallery Association in towns across the Parkes electorate constantly amazes me.
“By increasing the cultural capital of our towns with art and heritage projects, places like Warren can build their reputation as a destination for travellers, which is beneficial for not only Warren but surrounding areas.
“I look forward to all the different exhibitions, programs and creativity which will be enabled through this wonderful facility.”
Chair of the Warren Museum and Art Gallery Association Dr John Burke said that he and the Association were grateful for the opportunity to transform an architecturally significant and historic building on the main street of Warren into a museum, art gallery and artist-in-residence space.
“The Warren Museum and Art Gallery Association is eternally grateful to the Australian Government for enabling us to develop the museum,” Dr Burke said.
“Without the grant money we received through the Building Better Regions Fund Round 4 this project would have been impossible, but as it is we have been able to restore and fit out the building.”
“It is our hope that the people of Warren, New South Wales and Australia will be proud of the result.”
The Warren Museum and Art Gallery Association received $3,541,665 under the Building Better Regions Fund Round 4 – Drought Support.
