An historic, deconsecrated Riverina church will soon be transformed into a cultural tourist destination as part of an ambitious project by The Wired Lab.
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The Church of the Immaculate Conception in Muttama - roughly 20 minutes from Gundagai - will become a multi-purpose cultural tourism space with adjoining accommodation, facilitating community activities, auditory arts experiences and permanent installations by leading Australian artists.
The Wired Lab, an organisation creating artistic opportunities in rural areas, purchased the church last year and received almost $1 million in funding for the project through the joint state and federal Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund.
CEO and artistic director Sarah Last said The Wired Lab has always aimed to re-centre cultural experiences to ensure they're inclusive of regional and rural contexts.
"The Church project does this and will be the first of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. We can't wait to get started," she said.
Wiradjuri culture is embedded in the hub's planning, with local Wiradjuri Elders engaged as project consultants.
Aunty Cheryl Penrith, local Wiradjuri leader and The Wired Lab board member, said a Yarning Circle will be situation in the middle of the space, centrally locating First Nations culture on a site where it was historically excluded.
"This gesture is incredibly powerful and meaningful, especially as the Wiradjuri Yarning Circle will enable us to share culture with our community and visitors," she said.
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Cootamundra-Gundagai mayor Abb McAlister said he is excited about the project and hopes to see it bring tourism back to the local government area after the impacts of drought, bushfire and COVID-19.
As well as the Wiradjuri Yarning Circle, a "deep listening" experience will also be a focal point of the project with significant Australian artists developing works of sound.
Work on the project is expected to begin early next year.
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