Culture Hub is a NSW State Winner at the 2020 IMAGinE Awards

In what can only be described as a cultural coup, Council’s very own Culture Hub took out the Imagination Award Category at the Museum and Galleries of NSW IMAGinE Awards.

These Awards are developed with support from Australian Museums and Galleries Association of Australia and Regional and Public Galleries of NSW.

Culture Hub was recognised to be a temporary, experimental shopfront space hosting exhibitions and associated programs to disrupt, animate and engage with the everyday.  Including takeovers for, about and by the community and collaborations to facilitate an artist led recovery, it uses arts and cultural initiatives to connect local people, support their resilience and rebuild community.

The Imagination Award Category seeks to highlight projects and innovative concepts which use a museum or gallery in innovative and new ways, or projects that appear in unexpected spaces, or in landmark sites. Reimagined ideas which involve and inspire local communities, utilise technology to counteract physical isolation or connect with new audiences.

Ashleigh Frost Council’s Library, Museums and Galleries Programs Facilitator said special mention must go to Gowings.

“The support from Gowings and Coffs Central allows us to run the projects that appear in unexpected spaces.

“In a time of uncertainty where our regular programs were not possible, we have worked hard to open this new space in Coffs Central to connect people with contemporary cultural offerings that relate to the Council services.

“This recognition of the project is fantastic and added a real boost to the project- we are so excited to share the rest of the exhibition program! Also, we are in such fabulous company with a lot of these awards going to our neighbouring museums and galleries.”

About Culture Hub

Coff’s Culture Hub has currently been transformed into a contemporary art installation by Eugenia Lim, giving the community a chance to immerse themselves in a truly unique multimedia exhibition until 16 January 2021.

It is an unusual exhibition for Coffs Harbour and features contemporary installation and video works alongside sculpture and photographic works, inviting visitors to explore ideas and shift their point of view.

A total of six exhibitions are planned for the Culture Hub until July 2021 – including works from Australia’s most prestigious and infamous portrait competition, the Archibald Prize. That exhibition will run from 22 January until 6 March 2021, and will be shown in both the Hub and the Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery.

Council’s Culture Hub extends the city’s existing cultural facilities and provides locals and visitors alike with a taste of what will be possible within the new Cultural and Civic Space – a modern, safe and central place to learn, hangout and be inspired.