The McGowan Government’s $10 million project to transform the Art Gallery of Western Australia (AGWA) rooftop is complete, with the 500-capacity multipurpose arts space and bar now Perth’s biggest rooftop venue.
The refurbished space offers stunning 360 degree views from the heart of the Perth Cultural Centre to the Perth skyline, Northbridge, Matagarup Bridge and the Perth Hills.
The project’s completion marks the delivery of a McGowan Government election commitment, helping to further enliven Northbridge as a cultural and entertainment destination.
The rooftop includes a bar, entertainment facilities, gallery space and an open air rooftop sculpture walk featuring works from the State Art Collection.
The redevelopment created over 265 jobs during construction, with the new commercial offering to support further local jobs in hospitality and cultural tourism.
The venue’s centrepiece is the 34-metre long, five-metre high light-based artwork Targets, by Minang/Wardandi/Bibbulmun artist Christopher Pease, which wraps the rooftop exterior. It is the largest artwork the Gallery has ever commissioned.
As part of the redevelopment, Gallery conservation labs were moved and upgraded to enable a new roof level internal gallery, with the ground floor revitalised with a new mural and entry space.
The project was designed by Perth-based firm TAG Architects and Sydney firm fjmt.
The rooftop opens on November 6 in time for the summer festival season, operating during normal gallery hours.
The bar will be open Friday to Sunday evenings across summer months and is available for venue hire across the week.
The rooftop’s opening aligns with the beginning of The View From Here, the largest ever exhibition and celebration of Western Australian art displayed throughout the Gallery, featuring 30 major new works by leading WA artists and creatives.
As stated by Premier Mark McGowan:
“It is terrific to see this underutilised space in the heart of the Perth Cultural Centre transformed into a wonderful cultural and entertainment asset for our city.
“The venue offers stunning views of the city and beyond, and will help to enliven and activate this part of Northbridge for the local community and visitors to enjoy.
“The Gallery is also using this opportunity to embark on its biggest-ever celebration of WA art – providing important opportunities for local artists and creatives from throughout the State.”
As stated by Culture and the Arts Minister David Templeman:
“It’s so important to have a strong and sustainable precinct to create opportunities for our cultural institutions and amazing local artists.
“Christopher Pease’s unbelievable work is a stunning contemporary image of the city and State. I encourage you to visit the AGWA rooftop soon and drink in this fabulous new view of culture.”
As stated by Perth MLA John Carey:
“The activation of the AGWA rooftop is a fantastic initiative that will bring more people into the city, and in particular to the Cultural Centre, creating vibrancy and improving safety at the same time.
“Better activating our existing city buildings and spaces is critical to making Perth a more attractive place to live, work and play.
“This project is just the start: with the Perth City Deal set to transform the centre of our city with the new ECU campus set to pump new life and people into its heart.”
