On the back of what have been the most successful seasons ever for The Capital theatre and Bendigo Art Gallery, the city now wants to build upon this success and create a new level of experience and offering to the community.

Given the renaissance of View Street and its vibrancy, colour and heritage, it might just be the right time for the expansion of our major arts and art venues.

To its credit, the city has acted early in declaring this project to be one of its priorities ahead of next year’s state and federal elections and this gives all parties, and the community, the chance to have their say on the merits or otherwise of the multi-million dollar works which would be staged over a number of years.

It was just three years ago that a local study revealed Bendigo Art Gallery was worth about $18 million a year to the local economy. Since then, the gallery has hosted the enormously successful Golden Age of Couture exhibition, the Archibald Prize (twice), and many other significant exhibitions that have elevated the gallery to a new level of worth to this community and indeed regional Australia.

The toughest thing about success is that you’ve got to keep on being a success. That’s why we urge all levels of government to give serious consideration to this proposal to build upon the successes of View Street in order to lay the foundation for success in the future.

What do you think?

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