The new cultural hero of Cowes, Berninneit, is officially open to the community, with an incredible program of live performance, cinema, exhibitions and art unveiled today combining local talent with international and national.
Berninneit's inaugural program for the next 12 months aims to entertain and enrich residents as well as drawing visitors to the region.
The evening gave the audience a taste of the program to come including live performances from Kutcha Edwards, local legend Elly Poletti, performers from the State Ballet, classical guitarist Slava Grigoriyan and the legendary Kate Ceberano.
Highlights of the upcoming program include singer Kate Miller-Heidke, local legend Elly Poletti with a one-night only jazz and soul show, The Australian Chamber Orchestra presenting the ACO Collective and the global sell out experience Tubular Bells for Two.
There will be entertainment for the whole family, with performances of Grug, Children Are Stinky, and A Little Bit of Blue by the Little Wing Puppets.
The gallery is a professional visual arts space that will bring the best contemporary and Indigenous art to our region and will support and foster local artists. The first exhibition MILLOWL presented by Baluk Arts is an immersive experience exploring the spirit and place of Millowl by contemporary Aboriginal artists. Five of the countries most talented First Nations creatives deliver an artistic gift that weaves through the sky, land, water and animals of the beloved island.
Cowes now has its own cinema, with weekly screenings of the best of contemporary cinema and additional offerings during school holidays. There will also be a monthly screening of a fine film hosted by the Phillip Island Movie Club and open to all community members.
Bass Coast Shire Mayor, Cr Michael Whelan said Berninneit will not only bring headline acts and artists to Phillip Island, but it will also serve as a meeting place for a range of community groups.
"Berninneit means 'gather together', and the entire program for the centre is focussed around bringing people together - to listen to and watch amazing performers and experience things they wouldn't have the opportunity to do so close to home, or while on holidays, without this wonderful building," he said.
"Phillip Island is set to become a new tour destination for many performers. And on the home front, we welcome community groups to use Berninneit for regular meetings, performance, exhibitions and events."
"The Gallery is Bass Coast's first purpose-built exhibition space, and will present curated and touring contemporary exhibitions, along with showcasing works from Bass Coast artists and Council's collections."
Now construction is complete, Berninneit will support 30 ongoing jobs and it provide $51.8 million in economic benefit over the life of the project.
Jackson Clements Burrows Architects - who have led projects such as the St Kilda Pier and Bendigo Art Gallery redevelopments - designed Berninneit using mass timber construction, to create a community space that is both dynamic and interactive.
Berninneit is designed to Passivhaus standards and now boasts being one of the most energy efficient buildings in our region. It is built using materials to maintain an even temperature without the need for heating and cooling. Passivhaus buildings use up to 90% less energy than other new builds and are an example of the future of net zero building. The building has been constructed using many local businesses and partners.
