Community event to celebrate Geelong Arts Centre’s opening

THE new Geelong Arts Centre will officially throw open its doors tomorrow (Saturday, August 19), and will invite the public to a free Community Open Day the following day.

Part of the centre’s Grand Opening Festival, the event on Sunday, August 20 will allow the community to explore, after a four-year wait, the new spaces of Geelong’s freshly redeveloped arts centre and enjoy performances from the region’s finest community theatre, dance and music groups.

Split across the two major theatres and packed with a rotating bill of local entertainment, fun foyer activations and roaming performances, patrons can attend the day anytime between 10am-4pm.

The home-grown line-up of performers taking to the stages includes Bellarine Academy of Dance, Blink Dance Theatre, CentreStage, CircArts, Geelong Ballet Centre, Geelong Calisthenics Club, Geelong Dance Movement, Geelong Harmony Chorus, Geelong Lyric Theatre, GSODA, Geelong Youth Choir, Impetus Dance Theatre, JADA Geelong, KF Dance, Motion Dance Company, NORTH Choirs, Soul Sister Swing, Stage Arts Geelong & Torquay Dance Academy.

The centre is urging the community to come along and celebrate entertainment and creativity with the incredible pool of talent that is the heartbeat of Geelong’s creative community.

“Geelong Arts Centre stands ready to embrace the creative talents of our community, making this a truly inclusive and remarkable space for everyone,” Geelong Arts Centre head of programming Penny McCabe said.

“Join us in this exhilarating journey as vvebring to life the magic of the arts across our free community open day.”

Peformances in the Story House:

• 10-10.15am – CircArts
• 10.30-10.45am – CircArts
• 11-11.15am – CentreStage – the cast of Priscilla
• 11.30-11.45am – CentreStage – Elite Students
• 12 noon-12.15pm – GSODA Junior Players
• 12.30-12.45pm – NORTH Choirs
• 1-1.15pm – Geelong Lyric Theatre – The cast of Jersey Boys
• 1.30-1.45pm – Stage Arts Geelong
• 2-2.15pm – Blink Dance Theatre
• 2.30-2.45pm Geelong Youth Choir
• 3-3.15pm- Geelong Harmony Chorus
• 3.30-3.45pm – Auditorium open for viewing.

Performances in The Play House:

• 10:15-10.30am – Bellarine Academy of Dance
• 10.45-11am – Motion Dance Company
• 11.15am-12 noon – Soul Sister Swing
• 12.15-12.30pm – Geelong Ballet Centre
• 12.45-1pm – Geelong Calisthenics Club
• 1.15-1.30pm – KF Dance
• 2.15-2.30pm – Geelong Dance Movement
• 2.45-3pm – Impetus Dance Theatre
• 3.15-3.30pm – Torquay Dance Academy
• 3.45-4pm – JADA Geelong.

To assist crowd management on the day, Geelong Arts Centre asks that patrons register to attend via the website.

Registration is indicative, and does not guarantee entry. Due to capacity limits, patrons may be asked to wait for a short time.

Registrations are now open at geelongartscentre.org.au/whats-on/all-events/community-open-day

To explore the full Grand Opening Festival, head to geelongartscentre.org.au/grand­ opening-festival

Bookings can be made via the website, or by phoning the box office on 1300 251 200 between 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday.