The Naughty Noodle Fun Haus is set to receive $75,000 with the NSW Government confirming its election commitment for a permanent venue to support the organisation’s activities and to support the creation of a paid part-time Arts Centre Manager role.
The announcement comes as arts and creative industries have had devastating disruptions, including lockouts and lockdowns during which the Naughty Noodle Fun Haus continued to deliver widespread positive impacts to the Central Coast community.
Born in 2018, the Naughty Noodle Fun Haus has gone from strength to strength, attracting thousands of participants and audiences both local and visiting, enabling a visibly diverse and inclusive offering with an original and local creative identity for the sector.
This funding is part of the $37.2M Local Small Commitments Allocation, which will enhance local communities and consist of more than 600 small community projects across each of the 92 NSW electorates.
Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch said the money would secure Naughty Noodle’s place on the Central Coast art scene.
“It is fantastic to see quality arts and entertainment venues here on the Central Coast,” she said.
“Naughty Noodle is doing amazing things and I am excited to see how a permanent home will progress their work supporting culture and vulnerable communities across the Coast.”
Minister for the Central Coast and Member for Wyong David Harris said Naughty Noodle would help deliver a thriving and diverse arts scene in the region.
Naughty Noodle Fun Haus creative director Glitta Supernova said the organisation operated without a home for five years before it opened the Fun Haus Factory in Gosford last year.
“We exist to promote participation and active engagement of diverse arts and culture-based activities which strengthen the cultural fabric of our Central Coast community,” she said.
“The space will host multi-arts from exhibitions to film, live music to creative workshops and will also be home to our creative youth stream, YAAS.”
Also known as the Central Coast Contemporary Multi-Arts Centre, the Fun Haus Factory launched in Gosford in October 2023.
Naughty Noodle says the funds will cover a broad range of services and programs, events, supplies and equipment – the core of what it will take to run the region’s accessible arts and culture space in the heart of Gosford.
“It’s really important to nurture creative culture and economy,” Co-chair Juan Iocco said.
“Traditionally this has not been a priority in the region – it’s time to do better and be better, unify and play together.
“The Fun Haus Factory is proving to be a gamechanger for the region’s capital.
“Since launching in October we have already seen thousands of visitors coming through and the beginnings of perception changes for Gosford.
“We want to see this through once and for all with a thriving arts scene and nightlife across our undercapitalised, underutilised and most importantly underestimated capital city, not only for the arts centre but for local businesses, residents and visitors to our region.”
The Fun Haus Factory is currently open Thursdays-Sundays with full details available at naughtynoodle.com.au