Geelong Performing Arts Centre

The Geelong Performing Arts Centre is a performing arts, functions, and events venue located in Geelong, Victoria. The centre has two major theatres, a number of smaller performance spaces, and a bar, restaurant and cafe. It is located between Little Malop and Ryrie Streets in central Geelong.

History

Proposals for a performing arts centre in Geelong were first made in the 1970s. The site chosen had a number of existing buildings upon it:

Temperance Hall

A Temperance Hall was located on the corner of Little Malop Street and Aitchison Place. It was erected in 1858/59, the foundation stone being laid on 15 November 1858. This distinctive conservative classical building with Barrabool freestone facade, ornate central parapet entablature supported on Tuscan Doric pilasters and matching entrance portal was designed by an unknown architect for the Geelong Total Abstinence Society. The Hall was later used as a Grammar School in 1864. [cite web
url=http://www.aussieheritage.com.au/listings/vic/Geelong/GeelongWaterworksandSewerageTrustFacade/16031
title=Aussie Heritage - Geelong Waterworks and Sewerage Trust Facade
accessdate=2007-08-13] The hall was demolished in 1978 to enable the construction of GPAC. The stones were numbered and put into storage for future rebuilding, the current location being unknown.

Mechanics Institute

A meeting was held in 1842 to investigate the opening of a Mechanics Institute in Geelong. The first building was opened in 1846, with a new building opening on the current site on Ryrie Street in March 3 1856. At some point the building gained a 2nd storey, before it was destroyed by fire in 1927. A new hall was built on site, and was known as the Plaza Theatre. [cite book
last = Begg
first = Peter
title = Geelong - The First 150 Years
publisher = Globe Press
date = 1990
isbn = 0-9592863-5-7 ] The facade of this building was retained in GPAC.

teeple Church

The Ryrie Street Presbyterian Church opened in 1857, and was known as the 'Steeple Church'. It was designed by John Young in 1856 and built in bluestone in an Early English Gothic style. In 1914 the congregation moved to Newtown and became St. David's Presbyterian Church. The steeple was dismantled in 1913, and the present row of two-storey shops along Ryrie Street were built, although the main body of the church still exists today as part of the performing arts centre. [cite web
url=http://www.deakin.edu.au/library/spc/exhibitions/geelongalbum/pages.php
title=The "Geelong Album"
work=Deakin University library website
accessdate=2007-08-13]

Arts Centre

Construction of the centre commenced in 1978 with the demolition of the Temperance Hall. The centre was designed in a Brutalist style with exposed concrete. It was officially opened in 1981,cite web
url=http://www.gpac.org.au/about/default.aspx
title=About
work=Geelong Performing Arts Centre website
accessdate=2007-08-13] and consists of a number of separate venues: [cite web
url=http://www.gpac.org.au/venue/default.aspx
title=The Venues
work=Geelong Performing Arts Centre website
accessdate=2007-08-13]
*Ford Theatre: 797 seat proscenium arch theatre with dress circle and fly tower.
*Blakiston Theatre: 325 seat studio-style theatre.
*Alcoa Studio: 20.5m x 10m dance studio with a sprung floor, stage and mirrors. It is located in the former Steeple Church.
*Ballet Studio 2: 15m x 9m dance studio with a sprung floor, ballet bars and mirrors. It is located in the upstairs area of the former Mechanics Institute.

ponsorship

In order to raise funds for the construction of the centre corporate sponsorship was sought. A number of Geelong companies pledged funds and had sections of the centre named after them. The main theatre was named after major sponsor Ford. The second theatre was named after Blakistons, a local local transport company; the main foyer after Shell; and the courtyard after Alcoa.

Corporate sponsorship continues to support the running of the centre today.

Management

The Geelong Performing Arts Centre is a state owned cultural agency that receives funding through the financial assistance of the Victorian Government through Arts Victoria and the Department of Premier and Cabinet.

The centre is managed by the members of the Geelong Performing Arts Centre Trust, which was established under the "Geelong Performing Arts Centre Trust Act 1980". The trust is comprised by persons nominated by the local councils; experienced in the fields of education, business administration, finance or the performing arts; or having an active interest and leadership role in the performing arts. [cite web
url=http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/vic/consol_act/gpacta1980396/
title=Geelong Performing Arts Centre Trust Act 1980
work=Australasian Legal Information Institute website
accessdate=2007-08-13]

References

External links

* [http://www.gpac.org.au/ Official website]