About Us
RedShed is a facility for artists both professional and amateur, and for those who wish to learn new skills or enhance existing ones. We hope and anticipate it acts as a forum for both artists and art enthusiasts, where people can work and participate collaboratively or individually on a range of arts activities in an encouraging environment.
The RedShed Arts Workshop is open to anyone, not just the residents of Newstead. The workshop is a community access workshop, meaning the space and equipment are accessible for public use provided that the user is qualified to use the equipment safely. There will be introductory courses for access users to familiarise them with basic equipment use, workshop protocols and health and safety issues.
Benefits for Newstead
Apart from the facilities themselves and the programs that RedShed run, many of the advantages will be in the long term. RedShed Arts Workshop, together with The Newstead Arts Hub (who run gallery spaces at the renovated Railway Station building) and possibly other groups over time, plan to gradually develop the area surrounding the two rail buildings as a cultural precinct.
Our aims
Foster engagement and collaboration
Foster artistic engagement, collaboration, and output within the arts community
Provide artistic opportunities
Bring artistic, social, and financial opportunities to both artists and the broader community by pursuing the development of an arts industry for Newstead
Promote cultural environment
Establish, develop, and promote the facilities and the cultural environment which will enable these to be achieved
From Goods Shed to RedShed
Nine years ago, the Newstead Art Salon (now RedShed Arts Workshop) started work towards leasing the railway goods shed from VicTrack under their Vacant Rail Buildings for Community Use Program. After finally obtaining the lease, we worked with the architects for the restoration of the goods shed and its conversion to what is now the RedShed.
Acknowledgements
We are very grateful for the support of VicTrack, Mount Alexander Shire Council, as well as Community Bank Maldon and District Bendigo Bank, who is not only our lessee but also a sponsor.
