Nathalia’s The G.R.A.I.N Store is celebrating 10 years of presenting the work of artists and performers from the Moira Shire and even further afield.
An upcoming birthday celebration is set to feature guest speakers Moira Shire Council chief executive Clare Keenan and Yielima poet Tammy Muir.
In 2009, Nathalia’s rural feed and grain store closed and the building remained empty.
In 2010, it was converted to a not-for-profit community art space to reflect the evolving spirit, demographic and reality of regional towns.
Chairperson Philippa Schapper said the birthday was a fantastic achievement for Nathalia.
“We think it’s a worthwhile milestone to be celebrating, especially following the pressure of the last 18 months,” she said.
“For 10 years, our local artists have had a platform to present material to the wider community, which is a source of pride.”
To date, The G.R.A.I.N Store has had 27,700 attendances at workshops and performances, with more than 3000 artworks exhibited and 500 items sold.
All of this was made possible by more than 9000 hours contributed by volunteers.
During the coronavirus pandemic, The G.R.A.I.N Store ran a number of exhibitions, which helped motivate local artists to stay positive.
“Continuing to plan exhibitions over the COVID-19 helped people believe there was going to be a future and that we could manage the world we were a part of,” Ms Schapper said.
“After learning how to live in challenging circumstances, we have a burst of energy and are ready for our next 10 years.”
The pandemic prevented a birthday celebration from being held last year.
“We decided to wait so we can celebrate with the people that matter,” Ms Schapper said.
The celebration will now feature work from 55 artists who have participated in an exhibition over the past 10 years.
“We want to invite everyone to come to our party for a chance to make new connections and view artworks we’ve showcased over the past decade,” Ms Schapper said.
The birthday celebration will be held at 24 Blake St, Nathalia on Saturday, November 20, from 2pm to 4pm.