The Bridge Art Project is focused on bringing an arts and cultural precinct to the heart of Moama, for tourists and locals from across the region to enjoy. Photos: Supplied
Echuca-Moama is a thriving community that is only growing. One of the many reasons people love the region is the multitude of groups they can be a part of.
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To help you find the right group, check out our ‘Why not join...’ series each week, where we focus on a community group.
In today’s edition, Emily Donohoe speaks to the Bridge Art Project.
With an exciting 18 months ahead, the Bridge Art Project committee is getting busy, preparing for a mid-2026 opening.
Seeing a gap in the local arts offerings, Barry and Jan Donchi were inspired to create a home for artists and the community to enjoy.
In 2011, the Bridge Art Project was born, and the next year it was officially incorporated.
On board from the beginning, chair Chris Bilkey and secretary Lynne Gillard are passionate about the project.
“Barry was talking to some people in council about his idea of donating some land for the Bridge Art Project,” Mr Bilkey said.
“I listened to him talking, and I said to him and to the council people, ‘that’s the most insightful idea I’ve heard since I moved down here, I’d love to support it’.”
Multiple grants, donations and fundraisers have brought the project to its current stage, with their site at 74 Meninya St, Moama set to be completed by June 2026 to fit with the conditions of their $4.9 million grant.
To fit this deadline, the group has contracted a builder and has recently received some draft plans for the site.
They have also decided to go with a modular builder, committing to the available budget and tailoring to their design needs.
“We’re now very optimistic about our ability to build this gallery within the time frame that is required by the grant agency and within the budget,” Mr Bilkey.
“We are feeling more confident about how we go forward now than perhaps we ever have.
“We’re certainly much closer to getting a gallery in place and having a real feature on Meninya St.”
This marked a significant milestone in the initiative’s progress, with earth-moving works completed and the first installation gracing the 17-hectare site donated by Barry and Jan Donchi.
“We had 160 or 170 people there,” Ms Gillard said.
“That was nice. People came and walked around and enjoyed the fire (pit) that Julian Smith did for us.”
Site donor and steering committee member Barry Donchi, and then-Bridge Art Project chair Allison O'Brien in front of Julian Smith's fire pit and sculpture.
Industry experts and consultants are often in conversation with the group to help inform their decisions. Community feedback is also a priority.
The goal of the group is to create a space for art and for connection.
“We’d like to become a place that is seen as a place to drop in and have a cup of coffee,” Mr Bilkey said.
“A place that is not just a gallery but is a community gathering place.”
The committee is always welcoming to fresh faces and new ideas, with members meeting on the second Wednesday of each month.
“We’re looking for lots of young, enthusiastic people,” Ms Gillard said.
“Anybody who wants to get involved, really.
“There will be a range of activities and jobs that we’ll want people to help with, and that will become more attractive once we start digging holes in the ground and people start seeing some tangible action.
“I think we’ll certainly be looking for people to think about landscaping and the myriad of things to do once the build gets moving.”
The group meets at Echuca library at 4pm on the second Wednesday of the month.
Their January meeting will potentially move to the third Wednesday (January 15).
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