19 May 2015

Greater Shepparton City Council voted tonight to accept the findings of the Feasibility Study and Business Case for a new Art Museum in Shepparton and endorsed the location at the southern end of Victoria Park Lake.

At the Council meeting held in Mooroopna, the councillors endorsed the recommendations of the report on the progression of a new Shepparton Art Museum with the project to be included in council's long term financial plan and strategic resource plan.

Funding for the new art museum will be sourced from Greater Shepparton City Council ($10m), the State Government and Federal Government ($10m each), and $4.5m from the SAM Foundation. The Foundation will also fund an additional $8m to support future operational costs.

The recommendation also included preparation of documentation to progress the proposal with architectural design, construction plans, planning and building permits and an update of the Victoria Park Lake master plan. The documentation will also include modelling for governance and transition from the current SAM to the new SAM, and project timelines and milestones.

Council conducted a public feedback process with 76 per cent of respondents in favour of supporting the business case for a new Shepparton Art Museum. Nineteen per cent opposed the business case and 5 per cent partially supported the business case.

Greater Shepparton City Council Mayor, Cr Dennis Patterson said it was a very important project for Council to look at the possibilities for growing art and culture in the region. "We need to commit as a Council to the next step in the process," said Cr Patterson.

"I am very conscious of the funding requirements but we have the opportunity to move forward on this project now," he said.

Greater Shepparton City Council CEO, Gavin Cator, said a new art museum will bring more than an economic boost to Shepparton. "We will also see a unique cultural facility for our diverse community where social equality, citizenship, civic pride and reconciliation will develop," he said. "A new art museum will create a lot of excitement and optimism for the future."

"It was really encouraging to see such overwhelming support from individuals and organisations in our community and I look forward to seeing the progression from here," said Mr Cator.

Media enquiries Sonja King   (03) 5832 9701 or 0407 523 945