Taking shape: The Blue Mountains Cultural Centre in Katoomba will open in November.
The Blue Mountains Cultural Centre will open its doors to the public on November 10 after 14 years of planning and development.
“The completion of the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre will not only provide state-of-the-art cultural services for Blue Mountains residents but also add a world class tourist destination to the heart of Katoomba,” said cultural centre director Paul Brinkman.
“The City Art Gallery is the centrepiece of the development and will showcase artwork from across the world together with the region’s own talented artists.
“This exciting development is the largest cultural facility to be built in NSW for many years and is a great endorsement of the unique cultural strength in the region.”
Blue Mountains Lithgow and Oberon Tourism chairman Randall Walker said the new centre would be a welcome addition to the region and a valuable asset showcasing the world heritage area nationally and internationally through art.
“I always enjoy seeing the many ways in which this world famous destination is interpreted and how people experience what it has to offer. Under the professional guidance of Paul Brinkman the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre will absolutely add to that experience.”
With a combined public area of more than 4000 square metres, the centre will be home to the impressive 600 square metre Blue Mountains City Art Gallery, the World Heritage Interpretive Centre, a spectacular viewing platform to the Jamison Valley and extensive workshop and seminar spaces.
The new state-of-the-art Katoomba Library will also be located within the centre.
With an estimated visitation of more than 70,000 visitors each year, patrons can expect an exciting and diverse experience.
The inaugural exhibition of the Blue Mountains City Art Gallery — Picturing the Great Divide: Visions from Australia’s Blue Mountains — will survey two centuries of visual art inspired by the Blue Mountains region.
More than 100 significant works comprising paintings, drawings, prints, photography, sculpture and ceramics, by more than 50 eminent artists will be featured.
Guest curator Gavin Wilson has sourced works from renowned public and private collections to create the largest survey of Blue Mountains visual art to date.
The interactive multi-media World Heritage Interpretive Centre will use the latest technology to celebrate the distinctive environment, history and culture of the Blue Mountains region, and it is expected to be a strong drawcard for local and international visitors wishing to experience all the Mountains has to offer.
Visit www.bluemountainsculturalcentre.com.au or join the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre Facebook page for further updates.