Australia's Largest Regional Performing Arts Center Opens in Geelong

The $140m redevelopment project is a collaboration between the ARM architecture firm and indigenous Australians of the Wadawurrung Nation

Following four years of design and construction, Australia's Geelong Arts Center has been opened. The $140m redevelopment, which was funded by the government of Victoria, has made the space the largest regional performing arts center in the country.

The project was a close collaboration between ARM Architecture and the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation, as well as the broader First Nations community.

At the center's heart is its concert hall. Named The Story House, the hall has 550 seats and its capacity can be expanded up to 850.

The opening of the Geelong Arts Center is being celebrated with a four-week Grand Opening Festival, which began on August 19.

"Geelong Arts Center had quite a strong Indigenous engagement and Indigenous inclusion policy," said Ian McDougall, the founding director of ARM Architecture.

"Performing arts centers are strongest when they speak of their place, their location. And that requires or demands engaging and continuing the story of Indigenous place – that was a very strong part of the process of designing and creating the building."

"The Grand Opening Festival marks the culmination of years of dedication, passion, and community collaboration, reaffirming Geelong Arts Centre's commitment to extraordinary cultural expression for the region, Victoria, and beyond!" added Joel McGuinness, the CEO and Creative Director of the Geelong Arts Center.