BALLARAT Grammar has shown great vision with its plans to turn the former Wendouree Municipal Hall into a premier performing arts centre.
Plans for the $6 million redevelopment were unveiled publicly on Friday night.
The development is a significant investment for the school - the largest in recent history - and one which will benefit not only the Grammar community, but wider Ballarat as well.
For Wendouree in particular, it will provide a quality cultural venue in a suburb which has previously lacked such a facility.
The former municipal hall was a victim of council amalgamations, sold off as an excess asset when the Shire of Ballarat merged with neighbouring councils.
Ballarat Grammar, located virtually next door, bought it five years ago and has used it for drama and other classes and school gatherings since.
The redeveloped centre will be known as the Wendouree Centre for the Performing Arts and will enhance Ballarat's already-significant cache of cultural assets, the centrepiece of which is, arguably, Her Majesty's Theatre.
The theatre has reportedly welcomed this new development, as it should.
Any development which stands to enhance our reputation as a centre for performing arts and helps to attract quality entertainment to the city is to be encouraged.
Last week, we saw the City of Ballarat cut back its funding to some areas of the arts in Ballarat.
With ever-increasing pressure on cultural dollars at all levels of government, it is pleasing to see a school prepared to make such a significant investment.
Grammar is to be commended for the effort (and funds) it is prepared to put into this project.