Geelong Arts Centre (GAC) kicks off its four-week Grand Reopening Festival this weekend, celebrating a new era for the venue following the completion of the $140 million Little Malop Street Redevelopment.
Saturday night’s double-header will feature Jessica Mauboy performing in concert at the Play House to a crowd of nearly 800 people, while the Story House will host a night of stand-up comedy headlined by Dave Thornton.
On Sunday, performers from around the region will showcase the breadth and depth of performing arts in the region at the Community Open Day.
Running over two three-hour sessions at both the Story House and the Play House, the Community Open Day will feature the talents of 20 dance, music and theatre groups, which the public can see for free.
Over the next four weeks the GAC will present festival events featuring Missy Higgins, Ross Noble, Pseudo Echo and Opera Australia, as well as art exhibitions, backstage tours, family entertainment and thought-provoking theatre.
GAC chief executive Joel McGuinness said he and his team couldn’t wait to unveil the redesigned centre to the public.
“We’re super excited to finally open these new spaces for artists and the whole community, “ he said.
“It’s been a huge journey, but we’re at the finish line now. We can’t wait to see what the people think of the spaces.”
The new GAC was co-designed in consultation with Wadawurrung Traditional Owners and other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups and individuals in the region, which Mr McGuinness said had been a “really important journey”.
“For a number of years now we’ve worked with Traditional Owners and other First Nations people who live here, with ARM architects and the builders to really welcome Country into the very fabric of the building,” he said.
“You can feel it, this sense of welcoming, of inclusiveness, of creativity. And that brings us joy to see and feel that.”
Mr McGuinness said the Victorian government, which funded the redevelopment, had provided Geelong with a “once in a generation opportunity”.
“I’m incredibly proud of the tenacity and the vision of the whole team, and my team, over this time. It’s what Geelong deserves,” he said.
“Geelong is an incredible place and it’s what the artists and our arts community deserve; to have something that inspires them and allows them to be aspirational in their own artistic and creative practice.”
