The Minister for the Arts, Creative Industries and Cultural Events has announced that the expansion of the Belconnen Arts Centre has been completed on time and on budget.
The Minister, Gordon Ramsay said the completion of the expansion was an important moment for the local arts community as it would lead to more performances, more exhibitions and more community events.
“The newly improved Belconnen Arts Centre is a facility that has been delivered by Canberrans for Canberrans,” Mr Ramsay said.
“We’ve increased the exhibition space by more than 160 square metres which means an additional 10 exhibitions per year as well as providing opportunities for multi-media art practices,” he said.
“The new flexible theatre space can hold up to 400 seated patrons.”
He said a number of stage and seating configurations were now possible to allow for a variety of audience experiences such as theatre in the round or more conventional stage and seating layouts.”
Mr Ramsay said other new facilities included theatre dressing rooms; bathrooms; a green room; a new rehearsal space; a loading dock; and an events kitchen.
“Not only will the new Centre lead to more performances, exhibitions and events, but it will create an extra three jobs for arts workers,” he said.
“The benefits will be felt right across the Belconnen Town Centre and the broader community,” Mr Ramsay said.
