Tamborine Mountain has the highest number of working artists in the Scenic Rim.
Unlike many other tourists regions, Tamborine Mountain is yet to build a public artisan’s gallery and workshop where work produced on the mountain can be displayed and sold to visitors.
There are several excellent art galleries on the mountain that actively support local as well as regional artists.
Many feel however, that there is a need for place for artisans of all kinds to have a permanent place to display and sell their works.
A group calling itself the Tamborine Mountain Arts Collective (TMAC) has begun to lobby the Scenic Rim Regional Council and Australian Arts Community to gain funding to plan such a centre.
TMAC's goals can be expressed in two simple sentences:
- To establish a signature tourism destination that promotes community activities to educate, demonstrate and exhibit the skills of artisans and artists.
- To establish a working arts and artisans hub that inspires and transfers creative practices of excellence to the wider community.
TMAC has submitted an expression of interest to gain support from the Queensland Arts Council to gain funding for a project development plan for such an Arts Centre. The application was submitted in mid November and TMAC expects to hear back in mid December.
The submission was accompanied by letters of support provided by The Tamborine Mountain Chamber of Commerce, Cr Derek Swanborough, the Creative Arts Centre and Caldera Regional Arts Inc from Northern New South Wales.
The Chamber of Commerce said of the initiative: "It is recognised that the establishment of this venture, to create a working arts and artisan's hub would bring great benefit to the whole Tamborine Mountain community."
Cr Derek Swanborough said the proposed centre would become a "working arts and artisan's hub that inspires and transfers creative practices of excellence to the wider community."
The Cladera Art Inc looked forward to establishing "a good working relationship would occur between our two communities to promote the artistic nature of those who live in this area."
Convener of the TMAC, Lorraine Brown says the group has been pleased with the support offered to the group within the community and by officials who are influential in the local government and the Queensland arts community.
"It is a big project and may take some time," said Lorraine. "But we need a place where artisans of all kinds can get together and to share ideas. Passing on knowledge from one generation of artists to the next is important."
Lorraine Brown went on to explain that the Tamborine Mountain Arts Centre could act as the focus for arts in the Scenic Rim. As we have the highest tourist visitation rates because of our position above the Gold Coast, we can help direct vast numbers of tourists to the other arts communities in the Shire.
In a meeting with the Mayor of the Scenic Rim, Cr John Brent, the Mayor offered to listen to any ideas that the TMAC group might have. Cr Brent also asked them to think about any role that existing Mountain infrastructure might play in their planning discussions.
Cr Brent singled out the Vonda Youngman Centre as something that might be revamped and re-energised to give more benefit to the Tamborine Mountain community.
TMAC is currently meeting at the Creative Arts Centre. Its first public display will be at the Tamborine Mountain Sports Centre as part of the Brews Blues and BBQs Australia Day celebrations .
The Tamborine Mountain Arts Collective meets regularly and the convener, Lorraine Brown, can be contacted on
E: tmtnarts@gmail.com | T: +61 7 5545 3353 | M : 0438 166 228