Melbourne Arts Precinct

The Melbourne Arts Precinct (also referred to as Ngargee, which is a Bunurong word for describing "gathering for celebration") is a series of galleries, performing arts venues and spaces in Melbourne, Victoria, in Australia. The precinct is situated less than 1 km from the Melbourne city centre in Southbank and is centred on, and near, St Kilda Road. It differs from the East End Theatre District in the city centre, as most of the galleries and venues in the precinct are publicly funded.^[1]

The precinct is also a prime location for the administrative offices, broadcast studios, schools and training institutions of many arts organisations.

In 2008, it was announced by the Government of Victoria the precinct would receive a A$128 million upgrade, with the major refurbishment of Hamer Hall as its centrepiece.^[2] The combined Melbourne Recital Centre and MTC Theatre complex, which opened in February 2009, won the Moore Stephens Award for Public Buildings at the Property Council of Australia - the country's highest award for a public building.^[3]

Public venues and galleries

• Arts Centre Melbourne, including Hamer Hall, the State Theatre, the Playhouse, the Fairfax Studio and other venues
• National Gallery of Victoria
• various venues at the Victorian College of the Arts, including Grant Street Theatre, Space 28, Federation Hall and the Margaret Lawrence Gallery
• Southbank Theatre
• Melbourne Recital Centre
• Iwaki Auditorium at the ABC Centre
• Australian Centre for Contemporary Art (ACCA)
• The Coopers Malthouse
• Sidney Myer Music Bowl

Arts administration and education

• The Australian Ballet, including the Australian Ballet School
• Chunky Move at ACCA
• Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO) at the ABC Centre
• Melbourne Theatre Company (MTC).
• Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School (VCASS)
• Australian Broadcasting Corporation at the ABC Centre
• Creative Victoria
• Arts Access Victoria
• Malthouse Theatre
• Melbourne Opera Centre, offices of Opera Australia
• Victorian College of the Arts (University of Melbourne)
• Musica Viva

See also

• List of theatres in the Melbourne City Centre

References

1. Arts and Culture brochure - That's Me!bourne City tourism website (City of Melbourne)
2. Coster, Alice (8 September 2008). "$128m plans unveiled for Arts Precinct". Herald Sun.
3. Melbourne's arts precinct receives nation's highest honour - Building Product News (BPN.com.au), 22 June 2009

Coordinates: 37°49′18″S 144°58′4″E / 37.82167°S 144.96778°E