Making over Mario's
Arts Gen will use its West Gate Neighbourhood Fund Grant to upgrade the multipurpose art and community space, Mario’s Studio in Footscray, which will include the creation of an artist studio space, a gallery, hot desks and a multiuse activity room.
The new space will host creative programs and exhibition opportunities, as well as spaces for the community to connect.
In the City of Maribyrnong, there are only a small number of artist-led galleries and art spaces available for the community to come together, share their creativity and showcase their work.
Arts Gen co-director Priya Pavri says that the revamp at Mario’s Studio in Footscray will be a community-led process responding to the needs of artists in the area.
“Arts Gen has been working with artists, advocates, and community leaders in the West for the last 10 years. Over this time the need for a space that continues to be responsive to the changing needs and desires of community and the sector has grown.
“In particular we are keen to provide spaces for our communities to share, exchange and grow in the wake of lockdowns and Covid-19 restrictions,” Priya says.
The new and improved Mario’s Studio will be available to the community for events and gatherings, including performance, reading and exhibitions and artist run workshops, including peer to peer learning and skills exchange.
The upgrade will improve the external appearance of the studio and gallery space, and includes extra gallery walls, lighting tracks, a kitchenette and breakout spaces.
There will also be a library of multi-lingual books, publications as well as learning materials and equipment that can be hired.
Arts Gen’s project is one of 28 projects funded as part of the West Gate Neighbourhood Fund Grants in areas such as arts and culture, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, sustainability, sport and recreation, and education.