Inauguration of the Phil-Aus Arts, Culture & Innovation Central

Filo-Aussie Arts, Culture and Innovation Hub Opens in Sydney
July 18, Monday - Sydney-based community
associations, NARRA Co-op Ltd and Plaza
Filipino Inc, makes history next month by
launching the first ever community hub in
Campbelltown City dedicated to promoting and
showcasing Filipino art, culture and innovation.
The Philippine-Australian Arts, Culture
and Innovation Central - or “ACI Central” for
short - will be opened to the general public as
a performance space, art gallery and networking
hub.
It will aim to highlight the unique heritage
of Filipinos as demonstrated by their art, music,
literature and cultural traditions.
“ACI Central is a dream come true for all
NARRA Co-op and Plaza Filipino officers,
members and supporters who have worked hard
to raise the necessary funds,” said Dr Jimmy
Lopez, NARRA president and founding president
of Plaza Filipino.
Lopez said that ACI Central will provide a
Narra Officers and Committee Chairs 2016: (Seated) Jimmy Lopez -President;
Josephine Tada - Secretary; Daisy Ann Cumming - Vice President; and, Rose
Lay - Director. (Standing) Violy Escultura - Asst Secretary; Marcus Rivera -
Director; Precy Buchlack - Director; Emily Rudd - Comittee Chair; Michelle
Baltazar - Committee Chair; and, George Torres - Committee Chair
platform for up-and-coming and established Filipino-Australian artists, musicians and writers looking for a space to showcase
their work.
“We will continue to do fundraising events so that our local artists and performers can use our performance space/art gallery
at a heavily subsidised cost or for free. Ultimately, we hope to get government grants and sponsorships so we can help our local
talents grow and hone their craft at ACI Central,” he added.
In keeping with the times, ACI Central is also an “innovation” hub, providing a space for Filipino-Australian technology startups
and small business entrepreneurs to meet and network.
“Besides music and arts, we believe another way to build a bridge between the present generation and future generation
of Filipino-Australians is through technology and business innovations - it’s another way ACI Central can be of service to the
community,” said Michelle Baltazar, president of Plaza Filipino.
The property is on the ground floor of a mixed residential and commercial building on 3-9 Warby Street in Campbelltown.
The performance space/art gallery accommodates up to 70 guests at any one time and there are two workspaces available for lease
once it is fully operational.
Founded in 2013, the National Affiliation of Respectable and Responsible Associations (NARRA) Co-operative Ltd was
formed to appeal to Filipino-Australians who wanted to raise funds to build a community centre under a co-op structure. Through
its successful fundraising events such as the Ambassador of the Year and the annual Tribute to Mothers and Fathers, as well as its
membership drive, NARRA raised more than $104,000.
Meanwhile, community association Plaza Filipino, which was founded 10 years earlier (2003), also had funds of approximately
$30,000 and shared the common goal of building a community centre.
Early this year, both associations discussed ways to realise their mutual objective and, after exploring several other options,
decided to purchase the ACI Central property for $207,900 plus costs, with Plaza Filipino as the naming rights donor of $30,000.
“By purchasing a modestly sized property and joining forces with Plaza Filipino, we were able to save our members tens of
thousands of dollars in interest costs,” said Lopez.
To date, Lopez said that they only need to fundraise at least $100,000 within the next 12 months and the property will be fully-paid.
“We’ve already had pledges from new members of at least $10,000, which means we’re that much closer to reaching our
target,” he said.
Daisy Ann Gonzalez Cumming and Manny Roux, both past presidents of Plaza Filipino, were among the group of association
members who inspected the new ‘ACI Central’ premises early in July. They suggested a fundraising and membership drive at the
August 6 opening for the outstanding payment of the property.
“This is a legacy we can all be proud of. A platform for our present and new crop of talented artists, musicians, writers and
innovators to shine,” said Cumming.
Besides Lopez, Roux and Cumming, past presidents of Plaza Filipino who have been part of the fundraising campaign since
2003 were Violeta Miguel, Rey Morcilla, Rise Roux and Elizabeth Escandor. The major fundraisers during the period were Leah
Hansen and Bernadette Oalin, Mrs Philippines Australia 2005 and 2006 respectively. The art paintings of Dennis Gonzalez Monte
raised a lot of funds in 2012.
At NARRA, among the major individual fundraisers in the past three years include Brenda De La Sala, Ester Arador,
Carmenchu Gresham, Rey Morcilla and Dr. Raul Amor.