Questions on the future of the Art Pathways program were raised after it was announced that Castlemaine Continuing Education was entering voluntary redundancy in January.

But on Wednesday, the program’s first day of classes began under the auspices of Castlemaine Community House.

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Former program co-ordinator Ana Radovcich has stayed on as a tutor, as have the other three tutors.

She thinks the move to keep the course running through the Community House is “fantastic”.

“(The program) is really special, it holds a special place in the community,” Ms Radovcich said.

Castlemaine Community House was one of three providers of the adult education scheme Learn Local in Mount Alexander Shire, along with CCE and Maldon Community House.

CCH manager Martyn Shaddick said when CCE went into voluntary administration, the Adult, Community and Further Education Board approached the organisation.

A week before the course began, 12 people had enrolled in the year-long program, and Mr Shaddick said more people had been turning up each day to sign up.

“Clearly there’s a demand for (the program),” he said.

“Castlemaine is a very arty town, a very community-driven town.”

The course continues to operate from the old CCE building, due to it having the proper facilities.

Mr Shaddick said it was the same course taught by the same tutors, but was simply under different management.

Ms Radovcich said the course served an important social function by helping combat social isolation, giving people who were new to the region or had suffered some sort of trauma a place to go and meet others.