A Short History of BACCI

A SHORT HISTORY OF BACCI

by Mary Richards - Vice President

In February 1998 Grace Cruice put a tiny ad in the then Ballina Advocate. Just one column wide, three centimetres high in a black box. "Anyone interested in an Art Gallery for Ballina, phone Grace (with her number). Twelve people answered & the Dream began!

A Public Meeting was held on the 22 May under the umbrella of the Ballina Arts Society. An inaugural meeting in August formed BACCI & by March 1999 we were incorporated as Ballina Arts & Craft Centre Inc.

The next seven years were spent fund-raising with an annual exhibition at the RSL, street stalls, raffles, stalls in shopping centres & selling bricks which raised $4,500.

We applied for grants & Government funding & in the end had raised $577,500. By 2004 four proposed sites were overruled by Council even with the then Committee of four turning the 'first sod', unknown by most members, at Treelands Reserve. Then the Council determined that it be the site for the Community Services Centre.

In 2006 we applied to Council to use the Old Council Chambers in Cherry Street. When accepted the Council matched our funds with a further $500,000. Restoration commenced in May & on October BACCI held its first Exhibition in the new gallery.

Unfortunately, that was the beginning of the end. The then Committee had its own agenda to be paid to manage the gallery. So we were out. They formed a volunteer group Friends of the Gallery to work it. Council knocked back their proposal & hired a paid curator.

In 2008, BACCI, as you know it today, was reformed: centre-less, cash-less, but ready to move on. Two exhibitions a year, bus trips, workshops, social get-togethers and no fundraising! But each exhibition caters for a charity. A wonderful group of people who support each other.

In 2010, Lesley Ryan, Secretary & myself made a deputation to Council on the 22 July, for our one free exhibition each year in the Gallery. Lesley couldn't be there, but Edna Moss came with me. Scary, but we had a win. June 2011 saw our first Grace Cruice Memorial Exhibition for two weeks to begin. Now two months long & our 19th Year.

BACCI Membership has fluctuated over the years from 120 to the present 50 - 60. The sad loss of a lot of our original members, with others moving on. We meet the first Tuesday of each month at the Cherry Street Sports club for social catch up at 5pm, meeting at 5.30pm.

As well as the annual Grace Cruice Memorial Exhibition we hold two other exhibitions for our members at the Masonic Hall, Cherry Street, (since 2018). We have wonderful, informative, monthly newsletters & new members are always made welcome.

We thank all of you who have been here for the long haul & have worked so hard to keep us strong, & a big welcome to all our newer members.

The hard work is done but we need you all to step up & help keep our

'Big Adventure' going forward.

On behalf of BACCI & Grace's Dream I, Mary Richards would like to thank you.

Money raised by BACCI - $77,000

GRANT: Art NSW-Planning NSW - $110,000

GRANT: Government DOTARS Sustainable - Regions - $390,500 (this was

granted to build on Treelands Reserve but was transferred to the Council

Building). Total - $577,500