Church to see new life as performance space

A CENTRAL hub for the region’s performing arts is in development following a combined organisation’s takeover of the former Neil Street Uniting Church.

Following its closure as a place of worship early last year, the site is being revived under the efforts of the recently-formed Ballarat Performing Arts Community.

The collective was established in response to the site’s availability, and secretary Beth Lamont said it’s an incredible win for the performing arts community to have a central space to work from.

“Many, many benefits will stem from this,” she said. “Not only will it provide a physical space but it will provide opportunities for getting together, collaborating, and conversing between our groups.

“The most crucial benefit is having the space to rehearse and perform, especially for smaller groups who can’t physically fill up Civic Hall or Her Maj and need somewhere to start up.

“This is a space that will be available all the time specifically for performing arts.”

With three churches located on the property, the first of which, built in 1861, will likely be used for storage, administration, and smaller-scale rehearsals, with the other buildings to be used for live performance and events.

As well as individual artists, BPAC features representatives from 10 performing arts groups such as Ballarat National Theatre, Royal South Street Society, Ballarat Arts Foundation, and Victorian Opera through the Ballarat Opera Festival.

The space will be open for BPAC members and groups with a roster to be developed if required.

With the hopes of opening the site up in the middle of the year, treasurer Millie Koenders said there’s still work to be done.

“There’s a lot to do,” she said. “There’s some leaking going on and some of the timber isn’t in great shape so the place does need some cleaning. Insurance needs to be in place.

“We’re still assessing which building is best for what and kit it out for what’s needed. Opening up will be subject to council approval once we’ve got essential safety covered.

“We’re planning to upgrade some staging in the large church, which can house roughly 300 people, almost wall-to-wall to cover the lovely wooden artefacts which will be maintained.”

BPAC vice-president Peter Kingsbury previously sang at the church, and said the space and its accompanying buildings are ideal for entertainment.

“It’s fairly unique acoustically,” he said. “I was here as part of the penultimate service which is where I fell in love with the place for its acoustics.”

“It’s a unique opportunity to have these three churches in the one complex, and we have an 1874 organ sitting up in the main building. It’s fantastic.”

BPAC is currently under a lease agreement with Uniting and members are hoping to purchase the space by the end of 2024.

To join BPAC or help fund the initiative, visit the organisation’s website.