HIRL Mud Gallery in Gray Street has recently been the deserved recipient of a small Southern Grampians Shire community grant which has enabled the installation of 12 spotlights to enhance the array of local artists’ works.

Part of the funding received will also go to advertising, including pull-up banners.

Mud Gallery treasurer, Jo Howell said the gallery applied to the council for a grant to undertake lighting and advertising.

“At this stage we’ve only spent the lighting part of the grant,” she said.

Mud gallery is a not-for-profit community space providing artists from the greater Hamilton region with a platform to exhibit and sell their work.

The gallery is maintained by a hardworking team of volunteers and relies on commissions from sale to remain open.

The gallery features a broad collective of artworks including paintings, photography, ceramics, sculpture, woodwork, jewellery, textiles and more.

Ms Howell said it was hoped the lighting would create a welcoming atmosphere to entice people into the gallery to see the works on display.

“The artwork is from local artists,” she said.

“We have regular changing of what’s on display.

“The gallery has been at its current site for 10 years. 

“Every piece that is sold, 25 per cent goes towards the gallery to keep it running. 

“We’ve got a great benefactor who gives us a great rate for rent.

“It’s all run by volunteers, open six days a week from 10am-4.30pm to 5pm-ish – it’s all volunteer hours.

“We have artists in their 80s and 90s, there’s artists from all over including from Hawkesdale, Pomonal, Casterton and Henty, we have amazing photography and a lot of them do prints.

“We’re not open Tuesdays which means we are open every weekend till 1.30pm.”