Ngununggula Southern Highlands Regional Art Gallery will receive a funding boost of $450,000 to ensure the gallery can be powered by self sufficient solar energy.
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Whitlam MP Stephen Jones was in Bowral to make the announcement.
Mr Jones said the grant would come from the Labor's community suppport program.
"I'm happy to be here at this magnificent institution in the Southern Highlands," he said.
"We know the arts sector has been absolutely smashed, whether it's live performing artists, whether it's festivals or whether it's visitors coming in to art galleries.
"The Albanese Labor government is going to commit $450,000 to this regional art gallery to ensure we can take the entire art gallery off the grid.
"I'm also excited about how, with Ben Quilty's leadership and passion, the Illawarra and Southern Highlands thriving art scene will have springboard for artists young an old to learn and create together."
Artist Ben Quilty said the funding of $450,000 would make the Ngununggula art gallery the first in Australia to run completely on renewables.
"That's a really exciting thing for us," he said.
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"We spent $55,000 on power. We have to climate control this huge beautiful building and this money will directly offset that.
"We'll have a huge array of solar batteries and that $55,000 will go straight into the gallery in terms of programming, children's education, and exhibitions."
The funding will make Ngununggula one of the few solar-powered art galleries in Australia, adding to its allure for the local community and visitors alike.
It will power a state-of-the-art climate control system, meeting strict standards needed for Ngununggula to borrow and display valuable works from, for example, the National Gallery of Australia and the Art Gallery of NSW.
The 100kw system will be backed by 38 Australian-made batteries, providing cheap and sustainable energy for years to come.
The exciting project is the brainchild of renowned artist Ben Quilty and will provide major benefits to the whole Illawarra and Southern Highlands community.
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Vera Demertzis
Journalist at the Southern Highland News covering council yarns and community news. Got a tip or a story to tell? Email vera.demertzis@southernhighlandnews.com.au or call on 0427 250 908.
Journalist at the Southern Highland News covering council yarns and community news. Got a tip or a story to tell? Email vera.demertzis@southernhighlandnews.com.au or call on 0427 250 908.
