Mission Beach's natural beauty and idyllic charm has long been a magnet for artists and creatives. From the eclectic handful of artists that trace their creative roots locally to the Artists' Colony on Dunk Island (including Noel Wood, the Cohen sisters - Yvonne and Valerie, Bruce Arthur, Deanna Conti and Fred Williams) to the array of established and emerging artists who have since chosen to make Mission Beach and its tropical surrounds their home, ours is a rich & diverse collective of creatives and creative inspiration.
The Mission Beach Artists and Craftworkers Association (MBACA), the precursor to Mission Arts, was formed on 11 April 1999. Later that year, on 1 November, it was incorporated as Mission Beach Artists Inc. (MBA). Mission Beach Artists originally operated from a space upstairs at The Hub in North Mission Beach and then a shopfront on the beach side of Porter Promenade. They later moved to a house just south of the Mission Beach Village where they could collectively exhibit and hold workshops. Unfortunately, rental costs became prohibitive and the group started to work with the local Council and other funding bodies to find a permanent home.
To this end, a new group was formed to apply for grants and explore plans for a permanent facility. The Mission Beach Community Arts Centre (MBCAC) was formed on 5 March 2009. The steering group and inaugural committee, representing the wider community interest, won an Australian Government Jobs Stimulus Package grant to build the centre and obtained a lease from the Cassowary Coast Regional Council for the site at MARCS Park. Support from business and culture lovers, locally and further afield, helped build the finances. The group was subsequently registered as an Incorporated Association on 18 June 2010 and set to the task of applying for grants to outfit the centre in preparation for its opening. Despite setbacks, including damage from Cyclone Yasi in February 2011, the Mission Beach Community Arts Centre facility opened on time to fanfare and acclaim on 26 August 2011.
Excitement, enthusiasm and community interest propelled the organisation forward and enhanced its growing reputation as a regional creative and cultural centre. Various creative interest groups were formed to foster interest and skills-building across specific facets of the arts. In 2013, Mission Beach Community Arts Centre Inc. (known locally as Mission Arts, its trading name) secured additional funding for a Pottery Studio and, in late 2014, a dedicated space was erected adjacent to the original building for the specific purpose of enabling our community to explore the world of ceramics (pottery and sculpture).
In early July 2022, Mission Arts commenced discussions with the Cassowary Coast Regional Council about expanding its footprint to include the former Girl Guide House, adjacent to Mission Arts. In July 2023, Mission Arts took formal possession of the old house, which it now affectionately refers to as the 'Pineapple Cottage Theatre', an homage to its origins on the site of a working pineapple farm. The Pineapple Cottage is currently home to Mission Arts Theatre Ensemble (MATEs) and serves as a theatre workshop, rehearsal space and small performance venue.
In June 2024, Mission Arts staged the Mission Beach Artists and Craftworkers Association 25th Anniversary Exhibition, a retrospective look at the original art & craft group in Mission Beach and a celebration of its evolution into present-day Mission Arts.
The Mission Beach Community Arts Centre facility is now a well-established focal point for Mission Beach and the wider community. It is a purpose-built community arts centre that draws people from all walks of life and with varied interests in local history and the visual, performing and literary arts. It was conceived, funded, designed, built, and is still managed today, by volunteers as a vibrant, self-sustaining creative and cultural community hub.
From the small group of visionaries who dared to dream a seemingly impossible dream, thousands of artists, art lovers and workshop participants have since passed through the centre’s big red door. An ongoing programme of exhibitions, events, performances and workshops provide an array of creative and social opportunities for this small seaside community. Informal interest groups gather regularly to enjoy various creative pursuits. Thousands of dollars of locally produced artworks have been sold in the gallery and shop, boosting income for local artists and enriching the experience of visitors and tourists to the region.
Our history is rich, our people are passionate, and our future is bright. We hope you'll be part of the journey.