THE Coonabarabran community received a $50,000 artistic injection on Wednesday 23 November for the refurbishment of 'SPACE', a disability- run not for profit gallery.

NSW Nationals Upper Hunter House MP Sam Farraway said the funding will deliver a much-needed upgrade to the only creative space and gallery in Coonabarabran.

"This investment in cultural infrastructure is recognition of the valuable role arts and culture plays in our community," Mr Farraway said.

"This will ultimately benefit disabled and disadvantaged artists who would otherwise lack the resources to work in a collaborative setting and display their artworks.

"It is projects like this in Coonabarabran that will see museums, galleries and performance spaces across NSW become venues their communities can continue to be proud of," said Mr Farraway.

Creatives Collective ARI Inc. President, Allison Reynolds said the additional funds will help meet SPACE's current mission as a disability- run not for profit organisation.

"We want to provide a safe, non-judgmental place for our 25 members to practice their art and make SPACE as comfortable and safe for all members of the community," Ms Reynolds said.

"This means ensuring that the temperatures, air quality, and the building itself, are not disabling our community.

"We were excited to receive these funds because it will allow us to improve on meeting our current organisation's mission," she said.

Members of the Creatives Collective working on new artworks to display once refurbishments are finished at the SPACE gallery in Coonabarabran. PHOTO: Allison Reynolds.

Renovations of the gallery will take place both internally and externally, Ms Reynolds hopes that the refurbishment of the SPACE art gallery will encourage more artists to display their work.

"The funds will go towards fixing the roof plumbing- which has caused problems in the ceiling and to the rendered walls. We also want to alter the interior so we can put a disabled bathroom toilet into the building, as well as adding solar panels to bring down electricity costs, and reverse cycle air conditioners to combat the ever- changing weather conditions," she said.

Ms Reynolds believes that Coonabarabran and surrounding areas should prioritise arts and culture more within the community.

"SPACE is the only art gallery in town. Creatives Collective AR Inc. like to think of ourselves as an innovative group. We have sold works across Australia including as far north as Queensland, south of Tasmania, and some repeat out- of- state customers.

"We know we are making a difference. We want the community to recognise this and implement other reasons for travellers to stop and spend money within the township," said Ms Reynolds.

"We have not only used our creative space for art, but SPACE is the home for a knitting and crochet group, the local spinners and weavers, a local Elders group as well as the Coonabarabran Suicide Prevention Network," she said.

The $50,000 grant will help assist SPACE in meeting their organisation's mission for providing a safe space for members to practice their art. PHOTO: Allison Reynolds.

The $50,000 investment will assist Creatives Collective ARI Inc. members to not feel excluded or isolated, said Ms Reynolds.

"As many people found out during COVID-19, isolation can be very debilitating. Creatives Collective ARI Inc. originally formed because the local art group met in an inaccessible place, which lacked good understanding about the needs and wants of some artists," Ms Reynolds said.

"Isolation or exclusion can be very damaging to the self- esteem and it damages the mental health of many individuals. By getting together with peers to be creative and discuss issues with understanding people has helped our members significantly".

"We prioritise showing art from disabled and disadvantaged groups of people because art is often seen as an exclusive activity, but art is the great leveller, you cannot tell anything about the artist from the work itself, only your own experience informs you. So we ensure that all kinds of art, by all kinds or artists are shown to ensure inclusion," said Ms Reynolds.

The Creatives Collective ARI Inc. is excited for the future. SPACE hopes to continue celebrating all members of the Coonabarabran community after the gallery is fully refurbished.

"We have been quite successful in holding exhibitions, workshops, residencies, and even a dance party in SPACE, and will be looking to do even more exciting things in 2023," Ms Reynolds said.