After the difficulties of running an in-person venue during the COVID-19 lockdowns, the West Gippsland Arts Centre is now having its busiest year on record.
After the closures through the pandemic, welcoming familiar faces, new families, creatives, and schools back into the venue has been a joyous experience. “We’ve been so pleased to re-establish the vibrant atmosphere of the Arts Centre, and then to build that momentum into our most busy year to date. It’s delightful!” says Melissa Langstaff, Acting Manager Arts, Culture & Events.
With an impressive line-up of shows and a thriving community events calendar, the Centre is in the midst of its busiest year in its forty-year history. Back-to-back weekends in February and March of this year featured near sell-out shows, including Noiseworks (657 attendees), The Whitlams (534 attendees), Lano & Woodley (724 attendees), Chocolate Starfish (606 attendees), and Kitty Flanagan (731 attendees).
In addition to this strong roster of national touring acts, the Arts Centre is passionate about supporting community-driven shows. Over 65% of their events programming showcases the best our local community has to offer. This includes the work of community theatre groups, local artists, and school events, such as:
- Women in Gippsland/BBSC International Women’s Day event, which had 640 guests in early March;
- Next Gen Theatrical’s ‘Be More Chill’ – their debut performance – had an audience of 300;
- Warragul Youth Theatre’s ‘Aladdin Jnr’ attracted 2115 attendees across eight performances in April;
- And the 2023 Live 4 Life Launch hosted 1115 Year 8 students from all secondary schools in Baw Baw in May.
The new café, Coffee Vibes, has also added to the overall reinvigoration of the Arts Centre. The all-abilities social enterprise café recently opened at the Arts Centre, and attendees can now enjoy delicious coffee and treats within a welcoming and fully accessible café space.
Mayor of Baw Baw Shire Cr Annemarie McCabe says, “The Arts Centre is a hub of community in our Shire, and it’s heartening to see it not only recover, but flourish in the wake of the COVID-19 lockdowns. We are incredibly proud of the West Gippsland Arts Centre’s passionate team for their hard work in bouncing back after such a difficult time.”
The West Gippsland Arts Centre is the nexus of Baw Baw’s thriving arts and culture-loving community, and if the first half of 2023 is any indication, that community will only continue to grow.
To learn more, buy a membership or book your tickets to an upcoming show, visit West Gippsland Arts Centre’s website.
