Pathway for arts
THE City of Greater Geelong and region, the Geelong Performing Arts Centre, the broader cultural precinct and artistic life in Geelong are at a critical turning point.
Over the past 10 years it has been my privilege to be the general manager of the Geelong Performing Arts Centre (affectionately known as GPAC to many). A key focus has been building the crucial arts and culture agenda for this region and guiding a new path for the centre over the next 20-30 years.
GPAC has served us well for so long. Believe it or not, the centre is now 37 years old and was built at the same time as the Hamer Hall in Melbourne.
But successive Trusts have not seen this as the future. They have recognised that no business can stand still and thrive.
The centre can and must be more. The world of 1981 when GPAC opened for 140,000 residents is very different in 2018.
Other capital and regional cities are now making extensive investments in cultural infrastructure. Geelong must do the same — and fast — if we are to have arts and culture contribute to a clever and creative city. We need funding to complete the work we have just started because in 2018 we are planning for a population of 500,000.
For the many new residents and new students making the move to Geelong — health and education are taken for granted in our smart city — the question consistently asked is: what is the cultural offer?
So, what should the Geelong Performing Arts Centre look like in 2030 and 2050 to meet our future demands? What will the artistic community and audiences need, seek and enjoy? How, and in what form, will they engage? Where does a performing arts centre sit now in a digital world, in a university town, in a large city?
Live performance and coming together and sharing the experience will always be at the heart of what we do. But we also know our audiences will want or need to access the arts in different ways and we need to make that access as easy as possible for every resident.
Artists in our region also need a home to be able to develop work and we need to support them to build creative exports — and not just simply bring the arts into Geelong.
So the centre’s redevelopment masterplan has been developed imagining this new world.
And our redevelopment business case is compelling — across jobs, return on investment, artistic development, visitation, reach and investment per attendee.
We are now more than ready for clever and creative interventions.
It is thrilling to see the first steps taken with the stunning Ryrie St redevelopment and all the opportunities it promises for our artists and our community.
The Geelong Performing Arts Centre already attracts more than 230,000 people to a theatre program that any city would celebrate. Made so welcome here, these companies and artists have become great ambassadors for this city and region along with Back to Back Theatre who travel the world but call Geelong home.
But in a redeveloped and expanded centre there are so many more opportunities in further diversifying the program, in building visitations and creating cultural exports.
Happily last week we launched a new program, Parrwang Youth Arts for Aboriginal kids, which is all about building their strength to learn, celebrate culture and find a strong path through life. Research shows that a greater investme nt in arts and education (early intervention) will take our kids on to a better and richer path.
Critical investment in Geelong’s unique cultural precinct will ensure that arts and culture are at the heart of the transformation of the city.
And we know the return on investment will deliver across the community. We also know it will generate further support from our audiences, the local business community and donors.
The foundations are strong, but we need new support to build on these and keep changing the city and
lives through the arts.