THE ever-expanding art world that the Strathbogie Shire seems to be turning into is going to grow even bigger and deeper with a large grant announced on Friday.

Euroa will be the beneficiary of $50,000 in state government funding to bring to town some of Melbourne’s leading artists to exhibit the unique format that Regional Art Group Euroa (RAGE) has planned for over the Easter period next year.

The exhibition will be built on the boutique re-using and recycling of materials into striking sculptures and pictures.

The Rotary Club of Euroa is a sponsor of RAGE and provided seed money for the foundation committee which successfully applied for the grant.

Club president Helen Waterworth said the announcement and the planned exhibition was a very significant win for Euroa.

“This is an absolutely tremendous result, absolutely wonderful,” Ms Waterworth said.

“We will be bringing in some high-value artists from Melbourne and we have a very clear descriptor of what the art will be.

“It’s all about re-using and recycling materials to make art – it’s going to be high quality and not just inane rows of rubbish.”

The grant is one of twelve awarded on Friday in the second round of the state government’s Tiny Towns Fund which is designed to help towns with population less than 5000 become better places to live, work, stay, and play, by investing in new community-building projects.

Minister for regional development and member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes said the grants of between $5000 and $50,000 would help local communities across Victoria flourish and, in this case, bolster the local art scene.

She said the government had invested $45 billion during the last decade in projects and programs that supported regional and rural Victoria.

"Rural and regional Victoria has so much to offer,” Ms Symes said.

“Which is why we’re continuing to support projects that enhance our tiniest towns, strengthen community connections, and encourage more visitors to all corners of the state.

“The Tiny Towns Fund is refreshing community halls, creating new walking tracks, upgrading local sporting facilities, and boosting the regional art scene, making sure our smallest towns are great places to live, work, stay, and play.”

Ms Waterworth said the grant would now allow the committee to sign off and ‘rubber stamp’ some exciting, planned locations, features, and an ambassador for the event.

“It’s a case of ‘watch this space’ as we now get this thing rolling.”