The widespread enthusiasm for the new exterior paintwork on Narooma School of Arts Hall (Kinema) has delighted the panel of local artists responsible for the design.
‘We’re really proud and also rather relieved,’ said School of Arts committee member and panel spokesperson Jenni Bourke.
‘It is a fairly adventurous design for Narooma, especially for such an iconic and historic building, so to have such a wonderful response is really rewarding.’
The panel consisted of Jenni Bourke, Mick Pepper, Ingeborg Baker, Janet Jones, Margaret Moran and Joy Macfarlane.
Mrs Bourke said each artist brought their own individual ideas to the panel, but they were inspired by the original 1925 colour design for the Hall with the pink front façade with sunrays representing the AIF emblem.
‘The original paint design only came to light about six months before we started work and had never before been done on the building, possibly because it wasn’t painted until years after it was built.’
She said that design honours the fact the Narooma community built the hall as a memorial to its soldiers who fought in the First World War.
It was Narooma’s multi-purpose hall hosting everything from dances, balls, public meetings and flower shows, to films, plays and concerts. From 1971 the School of Arts management committee has leased the hall to an independent operator as a cinema and live theatre.
‘We’ve had a good team,’ she said.
‘While we wanted to honour the original concept, we also wanted the design to reflect the richness and vitality of the hall’s past and future as an iconic and much loved Narooma arts venue.’
Mrs Bourke said working with Council’s heritage consultants was really valuable.
‘After much discussion they approved our final design, as did the School of Arts management committee. This gave us the confidence that we were doing the right thing.
‘The final result is so happy and festive it makes me want to eat popcorn.’
Mick Pepper said it had been a pleasure working with the design group and trades people ‘to achieve such a great outcome’.
Above: SOA Design panel 1 and 2
Five of the six local artists who designed the new look School of Arts Hall (Kinema) for the School of Arts management committee. They are Ingeborg Baker, left, Mick Pepper, Jenni Bourke, Janet Jones and Margaret Moran. Joy Macfarlane was also a member of the design panel.
