What is VFAG's Vision for Fortuna ?

The Villa Fortuna Action Group is a body of concerned people from the Bendigo community who have a plan to bring Fortuna into public usage as the Villa Fortuna Arts and Cultural Enterprise Centre.  It is acting to raise the awareness of the impending opportunity for Bendigo to acquire a world-class venue for the conduct of a wide range of artistic and cultural endeavours.

The Villa Fortuna Action Group is developing a Business Concept document which will demonstrate how the Fortuna site could be preserved and utilized for a variety of entrepreneurial, artistic, cultural, heritage and community purposes, whilst generating sufficient revenue to maintain the site.  This plan is modelled on successful venues elsewhere in Victoria.

With a Committee and the support of Action Group members from the Community, the mission of the group is to publicize its Business Concept and gain acceptance of this option - a world-class arts and cultural venue at this outstanding heritage site.

Community and local Government support is considered vital if the site is to be transferred from the Federal Government at which is termed 'Priority Sale at Concessional Rates'.  It is obvious that obtaining the building and grounds in good condition from the Commonwealth at a reasonable cost is vital to our proposed Business Concept. Action in that regard must be taken in 2009.

Members of the public are invited to become members of the Villa Fortuna Action Group with opportunities for involvement at a variety of levels.

With concerted community action, citizens who do not wish to see this 'once-in-a-lifetime' opportunity slip away, can help realise the potential to establish the Villa Fortuna Arts and Cultural Enterprise Centre as a feature of Bendigo life for future generations.

What Potential does Fortuna have ?

Fortuna Villa and its surrounding grounds have the potential to be used for a wide range of self-sustaining artistic, cultural and heritage oriented activities, such as:

• Artist's studios, workshops and galleries
• Classrooms for tuition and master classes
• Boutique recording studio
• Onsite accommodation
• Mapping, Charting and Cartography Museum
• Specialist book editing/printing space availability
• Restaurant/Coffee shop
• Small Retail Outlets
• Rare trades centre
• Entertainment venue (eg. outdoor concerts, theatre, plays)
• Local history - display space
• Lansell Museum - display space
• Festival and events
• Reception Venue
• Corporate Training and Event venue.

Opportunities exist for a wide range of involvement.  The skills of many community members are being called upon to bring this exciting concept to fruition.