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Latest News - Buchan Gallery Launch
- 22 April 2006
Launch of the Buchan Gallery
Saturday 22nd April 2006 at 2 pm
by the Hon Joan Kirner A.M.
Buchan Gallery Inc. was developed through a funding
project called Women who Mean Business. The project
is supported by the Victorian Government through the
Community Support Fund and administered by Arts Network
East Gippsland. It also has in kind support from the
Gippsland Women's Network and funding and in kind support
from the Shire of East Gippsland.
The Gallery is working towards becoming a self supported
business for the benefit of the community of Buchan.
The Gallery has been established for the sale of quality
locally produced arts and crafts in the lovely old Post
Office building in the main street in Buchan.
The purpose of the project is to further enhance the
skills of women in East Gippsland and to encourage and
assist women to be part of the business and economic
community. The project offers women the opportunity
for training and support and a means for women to gather
and share friendships and knowledge.
The Gallery opened on Saturday 29th October, 2005 and
has given the people of Buchan and district a venue
to sell their arts and crafts and financial opportunity
in a town with limited employment. The Gallery is currently
operated by volunteers and artists through a committee
of management.
The Gallery also promotes the town of Buchan and its
surrounding areas. We can offer historical information
and are currently developing a self guided historical
tour of the main street.
On Saturday 22nd April, the Hon. Joan Kirner will be
launching the Gallery project. From 2 pm there will
be artists demonstrating their skills, the Buchan singers
will be performing some songs and there will be informative
talks about the history of the Buchan Post Office service
and the old Post Office building.
For further information please contact Evelyn Schmidt
on 51 559 216 or buchangallery@yahoo.co..au or visit
our website at Gippsland.com
Previous Update
Buchan Gallery opened its doors to the public at midday
on Saturday, October 29. This was not the official launch
but an opportunity for the group to ‘dip their
toe in the water’ and iron out any glitches before
the of.cial launch which will hopefully occur over the
Christmas holidays.
They had 30 to 40 people through the door. At this
stage no paintings are hung but there is a wide variety
of goods for sale including jewelry, hand silk cards,
jams, sauces, ceramics, soaps, woodwork and applique.
The Gallery is open on Tuesdays, Thursday, Saturdays
and Sundays from 10am to 4pm except Christmas Day. Other
times will be by arrangement. The group is delighted
with the number of volunteers they have and the local
interest in the Gallery. The group will circulate information
to tourist operators to let them know of the facility.
Buchan Gallery Open for Business
Previous Update
The Buchan group of ladies are busy preparing for the
opening of the Buchan Gallery Inc. at the Old Post Office
on Saturday 17th September, in time for the beginning
of the school holidays.
Although they will open on this date they plan to have
their official launch later on in the year when they
are sure they have ironed out any 'teething' problems
and have everything the way they want it.
The group has had a great deal of community support
and a lot of local artists and craft people who wish
to sell their work through the Gallery. A number of
residents have volunteered to work in the Gallery and
the group are busy building up partnerships with other
community groups. The project was discussed at a recent
Fun and Friendship lunch in town and created a lot of
interest. The Museum at Stonehenge is being renovated
and they are interested in having some gallery items
on display there.
The women are very excited that the project will be
up and running very shortly and hope that the visitors
to the Buchan Caves will include it in their itinerary
when they visit Buchan.
Outcomes So Far
- Project brought people together
- Communication within/across community
- Participants profiles in the WwMB newsletter
- Negotiated with Shire regarding the lease of the
Gallery
- Successful in Grant applications
- Learnt about legal documentation
- Incorporation of the Group
- Skills training - Risk Management, Lease agreements
- Setting up and running of a gallery
- Communicating with and submitting media releases
- Managing an event - opening of the gallery
- Received funding from Shire for fire affected areas.
- Submissions for various grants
- Set up own website
- Research into rental properties as alternate location
for gallery
- Proposal written - business planning skills - timelines,
budgeting
- Trial opening - 29th October 30-40 people attended.
- Group delighted with volunteers.
- Connection with Tourist Operators
Participant Reflections:
- "I learned how to approach and talk to people
without standing on toes'"
- "Very well sequenced for success."
- "Great to get the community to work together."
- "We had a few good ideas but the main one and
most popular shone through."
- "I was isolating myself from the community
and this was a great way of including myself."
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