Curtains Up: Geelong Arts Centre Celebrates Its Grand Debut

In a significant stride towards cultural enrichment, the Geelong Arts Centre has reached a pivotal milestone with the completion of its third and final redevelopment phase. This monumental achievement has solidified its status as Australia’s most expansive dedicated regional performing arts hub. Designed by the esteemed ARM Architecture, the $140 million project is the most significant concluding chapter of a transformative journey over a decade to revitalize the precinct’s essence. Preceded by the renovation efforts led by Studio 101 Architects in 2010 for the Playhouse Theatre and Hassell’s enhancements to the Ryrie Street facilities in 2019, the Geelong Arts Centre has evolved into a beacon of artistic expression and innovation.

Geelong Arts Centre Achieves Milestone

The recently concluded stage, aptly named Little Malop Street, introduces various dynamic features that position the Geelong Arts Centre as a focal point for diverse performances. Among the highlights is a versatile 550-seat theater, equipped to expand its capacity to accommodate up to 850 attendees in live gig mode. This transformative flexibility underscores the center’s adaptability to various artistic endeavors. Additionally, a contemporary hybrid theater boasting 250 seats takes center stage, offering an innovative indoor-outdoor experience by seamlessly opening onto Little Malop Street for unique events.

A distinct and remarkable aspect of this undertaking is the profound collaboration that drove its realization. The Geelong Arts Centre partnered closely with the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation and the broader First Nations community, fostering a co-design process that engendered a significant outcome. The Geelong Arts Centre’s commitment to Indigenous engagement and inclusion was pivotal in shaping the project’s trajectory.

ARM Architecture, the visionary firm behind this transformation, embarked on the project in November 2019. However, the creative journey faced obstacles in the form of pandemic-induced lockdowns. Ian McDougall, founding director of ARM Architecture, recounted the importance of their engagement with the Wadawurrung community in 2020, significantly influencing the design process. He emphasized that a performing arts center’s strength lies in its connection to its surroundings and history, particularly the Indigenous narrative that enriches the building’s essence.

A remarkable facet of the Geelong Arts Centre’s rejuvenation is interweaving traditional stories of land, water, and sky into the architectural design. The building’s different levels draw inspiration from distinct themes: the ochre Country at street level, the Moonah forest on the middle floor, and the sea in the carpet and walls of the 250-seat theater. The night sky finds representation through Bunjil, whose features grace the carpet of the third level. Furthermore, the center collaborated with Indigenous artists residing in Wadawurrung Country to embed their artworks within the building’s spaces, imbuing each area with a unique and evocative character.

Tarryn Love’s art adorns the 550-seat theater, showcasing her focus on yoowak (the night) through timber wall panels. Tattoo artist Gerard Black’s creation, influenced by his upbringing in Wadawurrung Country, graces the ground-floor restaurant with an art piece depicting eels in motion through the water. Musician Mick Ryan contributed a soundscape that captures the essence of the Moonah forest, employing an array of instruments and natural elements. Textile artist Kait James’ works pay homage to souvenir Aboriginal tea towels from past decades, with her art digitally transferred onto metal panels adorning the building’s façade.

The striking Little Malop Street façade features a calliope, a sculptural form reminiscent of early twentieth-century traveling circuses. The calliope’s inclusion is rooted in the thematic exploration of performance history, which the Geelong Arts Centre aims to celebrate. Internally, the building offers distinct aesthetics for each space, with elements such as a vibrantly colored stone-lined stairway and a captivating tunnel connecting to the adjacent Ryrie Street building.

Joel McGuiness, CEO, and Creative Director of Geelong Arts Centre, lauds the Grand Opening Festival as the culmination of years of collaborative dedication, underscoring the center’s commitment to cultural enrichment for Geelong, Victoria, and beyond. As the Geelong Arts Centre is a testament to harmonious collaboration and creative vision, its transformative journey sets a remarkable precedent for regional performing arts centers across Australia and beyond.