Centre of attention: Statewide arts package supports Geelong Arts Centre redevelopment

THE state Labor Government will use its next budget to make Victoria the “Creative State”, with its arts package including funding to support the next stage of the redevelopment of the Geelong Arts Centre.

Acting Premier James Merlino and Minister for Creative Industries Danny Pearson visited the Geelong Arts Centre on Tuesday this week to announce the statewide package ahead of the state Budget being handed down on May 20.

The budget will allocate $6.3 million to keep the Geelong Arts Centre’s programming active and support local jobs.

This funding will provide safe, suitable accommodation for Geelong Arts Centre staff and allow the centre to stay open as work continues on the redevelopment on the centre’s Little Malop Street side, which is expected to be finished in 2023 and create more than 600 construction jobs.

The budget will confirm the funding required to continue the $140 million project to significantly expand the capacity of the Geelong Arts Centre with multiple new performance venues, an upgraded box office and refurbished back-of-house and administration facilities.

Designed by Victorian architects ARM and being built by Lendlease, the redevelopment is described as “another striking addition to Geelong’s cultural landscape” and “furthering the city’s reputation as a UNESCO City of Design”.

“Victoria is the cultural capital of our nation and this unprecedented investment will secure the immediate future of the industry, and make sure our creative offering is world-class for decades to come,” Mr Merlino said.

“Geelong Arts Centre is known for its high quality creative offering and vision, so it is great to make this announcement in a place where a new creative project is coming to life.”

Geelong Labor MP Christine Couzens said Geelong Arts Centre was a local institution that was embedded into the cultural and creative life of the city.

“Not only does it showcase homegrown talent, it attracts creatives from across Victoria and indeed the nation,” Ms Couzens said.

The Creative State package also includes:

• $79 million for a creative industries support and recovery package to secure thousands of jobs in the industry
• $23.9 million to support a diverse selection of creative enterprises, venues, and festivals
• $10.8 million to extend Victoria’s Music Works industry development initiative
• $4.5 million Creative Neighbourhoods program to provide creative workers and businesses with greater access to affordable workspaces and fostering creative hubs, and
• $4 million in dedicated funding for First Peoples, young people and those from diverse backgrounds.

The budget is also supporting festivals to showcase Victoria’s strengths to the world, including Asia TOPA, Melbourne Fringe and Melbourne International Games Week, as well as Victoria’s UNESCO Creative Cities designation, which recognises Geelong as a City of Design and Ballarat as a City of Craft and Folk Art.