Some cool news for MRAG

This week I met with Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter, Scot MacDonald and Gallery Director, Brigette Uren at Maitland Regional Art Gallery for the announcement of $100,000 of funding for this wonderful facility.

As a visitor, the overall humidity of the gallery is not something you would always think about, but it is hugely important for staff, curators, artists and other galleries looking to loan pieces to MRAG.

This Office of Environment and Heritage’s ‘Green Energy Grant’ will help to upgrade the current air conditioning system at the Gallery, meaning MRAG will then be in a position to attract loans of high quality cultural material and exhibitions from State and National institutions that would not be possible without these improvements. I am thrilled with this announcement and I can’t wait to see what exhibitions MRAG might be able to attract once the upgrades are complete.

The Gallery will continue to apply for further grants in an effort to eventually complete a full  upgrade which would mean the Collection Room (which is currently without air conditioning) would reach its full potential by becoming fully air conditioned providing the ability to store high quality works that are donated to the gallery.

All in all, it’s great news but it is clear there is still some way to go. If you haven’t visited MRAG before, do yourself a favour and drop in.  You won’t be disappointed.

NSW Government to help with flood evacuation route

This week Council also received funding which will go towards better protecting residents from flood. The $100,000 will allow Council to conduct a detailed study for the potential construction of a high level evacuation route for Central Maitland and Lorn.

This project could make an enormous difference to the safety and security of the community should the worst happen. An evacuation route would offer people a lifeline as they wouldn’t be exposed to hazardous flood waters and it would also reduce the demand on our dedicated State Emergency Service volunteers and other first responders.

Maitland is a wonderful place to live, work and play and to know that we are safe and well equipped to deal with potential future flood events, is a comforting thought.