The Stirling Street Art Centre will receive $1 million in funding from the City of Bunbury over the next two financial years.
The much-needed funds will help redevelop the local art centre with the inclusion of two new studio spaces, new toilets, a new meeting room, kitchen, reception and retail display space and improved administration space with room for offices and storage.
The money will come in two installments of $500,000 allocated in each of the 2017/18 and 2018/19 budgets.
City of Bunbury arts and culture manager Julian Bowran said the current facilities just aren’t adequate to keep up with demand.
“There is significant pressure on the toilets especially when Stirling Street is very busy with things like school classes and in the holidays,” he said.
The exact details of the redevelopment are dependent on state government grants of another $1 million, which have not been confirmed.
Former Premier Colin Barnett promised the funding if the Liberal government was to be re-elected, but it is unclear if the WA Labor party, who won the election, will provide financial support to the project.
City of Bunbury Mayor Gary Brennan said the redevelopment was already off to a good start with the funding from the City.
“This is a first-class business plan and hopefully it will get fully funded and everybody will be smiling,” Mayor Brennan said.