Gunnedah Shire Council is pleased to announce the roll out of the Gunnedah Vibrant Precincts Project over the coming weeks.

The Gunnedah Vibrant Precinct Project was formed with calls on the community to collaborate in projects of activation, and street art and murals to bring vibrancy, action and creativity into Gunnedah’s CBD.

Gunnedah Shire Council was one of 20 Local Government Areas to receive funding from the NSW Department of Industry as part of the NSW Government’s Regional Development Framework – Future Towns Project.

“The Department of Industry and Gunnedah Shire Council recognise that the quality of NSW regional CBD precincts is critical to attracting and retaining a skilled workforce and promoting new and existing business development,” Arts and Cultural Officer Lauren Mackley said.

“Gunnedah’s Vibrant Precincts Project will see our CBD also become a place of creativity, where people can share experiences, knowledge, lifestyles and foster connections to place, and we are really excited to see the work begin.”

Consultations and workshop sessions in May resulted in nine local businesses receiving subsidies to activate areas of the CBD as part of the project, as well as three murals chosen to be featured throughout the downtown precinct to encourage foot traffic for local businesses.

“Gunnedah will soon see the addition of freshly painted shopfronts, personalised business planter boxes and seating as well as pop-up dessert bar, reading nooks throughout the CBD and shopfront exhibition spaces for local artists and photographers,” Ms Mackley said.

“The addition of murals within the CBD will create intrigue and inspire people to explore and see all that Gunnedah has to offer while visually representing Gunnedah’s identity and elements of our history. Mural installations are expected to start today.”

Local and national artists will work together over the coming weeks to install the murals in the alleyway between Conadilly and Little Conadilly streets, and the stairwell on the side of the Gunnedah Bicentennial Creative Arts Centre.

Gunnedah’s very own artist collective, The Arts Shed, co-ordinated by accomplished local artist Helen Stanley, will paint the side of the steps at the centre with a koala narrative, a native animal synonymous with Gunnedah.

Another mural will be installed by Sydney-based and internationally-renowned street artist, Silly Pear, who will mentor two young people of Gunnedah during the project in the alleyway between Conadilly and Little Conadilly streets.

Regional artist Daniel Stanley will work alongside Gunnedah’s Alice Weinthal and Louisa Riordan on the second mural in the alleyway capturing the essence of Gunnedah’s native animals.

The project will also see the installation of a Community Notice Board in The Smithurst Theatre courtyard to promote community events and groups.

Photo: Arts and Cultural Officer Lauren Mackley, right, presents Alice Weinthal and Louisa Riordan with funding for a collaborative mural.

ENDS

Media Contact: Ashley Gardner 6740 2100.