Friends of the James Theatre Inc has secured $50,000 in state government funding to improve Dungog's historic jewel to increase the range of cultural and community events it can offer.
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Michael Johnsen MP, Member for Upper Hunter, announced The James was one of the winners of the My Community Project program where ideas were put forward and voted on by the community.
The volunteers who manage the theatre put forward a plan to further enhance the improvements they have made over the years, to install air-conditioning, lights, cooking facilities and wireless internet to the iconic venue.
The Friends committee will coordinate the improvements, in consultation with local tradespeople and council.
The other successful projects in Upper Hunter include: Gloucester Public School - $100,000 to modernise playground equipment and Amaroo Park, Scone - $121,220 for a spray pad for children to play in the park.
Mr Johnsen thanked all the local applicants for taking the time and effort to develop their ideas and promote their projects along with the residents who voted.
"My Community Project captured the imagination of our Upper Hunter Electorate community with people putting a lot of work into their ideas and it was great to see people get behind the projects that matter to them," he said.
"These projects came from the community and were voted on by our communities and I now look forward to seeing applicants and sponsors getting on with the job of rolling out these projects and the benefits they will provide to those local communities.
"My Community Project is a great example of real grassroots democracy in action and the projects chosen to receive funding reflected the wishes of the people," Mr Johnsen said.
"I congratulate all of our successful project applicants and urge those projects that were unsuccessful to see if they could be eligible to apply for other funding from programs such as Community Building Partnerships."
