Belconnen Arts Centre

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Belconnen Arts Centre

Established	2009; 13 years ago (2009)
Location	Belconnen, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
Type	Arts Centre
Chairperson	Phil Nizette
Architect	Williams Ross Architects, Project Coordination
Owner	ACT Government

The Belconnen Arts Centre, in the Australian capital Canberra, was opened in 2009.^[1] The facility is owned by the ACT government and managed by Belconnen Arts Center Incorporated. The centre is operated by a small group of staff supported by volunteers.

Architecture[]

The Belconnen Arts Centre was designed by Williams Ross Architects and built by Project Coordination Australia P/L.^[2] The building is located on the waterfront of Lake Gininderra, next to the central business district of Belconnen.^[3]

Over 2019, the Belconnen Art Center will be expanded in double size, with new performance space, dance studios, cafes, conference rooms, and an updated foreshore.^[4] The ACT government will invest $15 million over three years to enlarge the space of Belconnen Art Center.^[1] In addition, the ACT government has appointed Canberra based company PBS Building to in charge of the construction of phase two. Work on-site will begun in December 2018,^[4] with the new wing that includes a 400-seat black box theatre and additional exhibition space officially opening to the public in August 2020.^[5]

Strike on Stage[]

Strike on Stage was an interface and corresponding audio-visual performance which was developed and performed by percussionist and media artists Chi-Hsia Lai and Charles Martin in 2010. It was held at Belconnen Arts Centre as Strike on Stage 1.0, NIME2010, Sydney and the Australasian Computer Music Conference 2010, Canberra.^[6]

Development of dance classes[]

Grassroots communities were initially chosen to start dance for Parkinson's classes in Australia in order to share information and demonstrate classes with support groups and dance teachers of Parkinson's. In May 2013, Australian teacher training workshops were offered in Sydney and at Queensland Ballet in Brisbane.^[7] As the initial training going well, these programs have developed in Brisbane (with Queensland Ballet), Canberra (at the Belconnen Arts Centre), Each class is full of different artistic and community elements.

Parkinson's ACT collaborates with the Belconnen Art Center to hold dance classes for Parkinson's, which were taught by experienced dance teachers and Community Cultural Inclusion Officer Philip Piggin. In July 2013, the ACT Government's Inclusive Participation Funding Program (IPFP) funded the program, supporting to start dance classes. Participants also have been attended activities in other art centres except for weekly classes. IMB Foundation has sustained this program by continuing funding the further programs, which also expands the classes at the Tuggeranong Arts Centre.^[8]

About tutors[]

Phillip Piggin[]

Philip works as a project coordinator at the Belconnen Arts Centre. He has experiences of teaching, choreographing, mentoring and performing for the arts, education and community groups (with and without disabilities). In addition, he was a community dance animator in Wales and has worked with the Common Ground Sign Dance Theatre in the UK on dance and disability projects, a hoarse and auditory dancer.^[7] In 1999, he moved to Canberra and has served on the education sector for 10 years in the Ausdance ACT and Canberra Dance Theatres, providing several programs for dancers of all abilities, ages and experience levels. Phillips now pays more attention to a dance program for Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and other chronically ill patients with the support of the Churchill Scholarship awarded in 2014. As a creative project officer at the Belconnen Arts Centre, he was honored with a lifetime membership by the British community dance organization in 2016. Also, he rewarded the Australian Dance Awards in 2017.^[9]

Board Members[]

Phil Nizette[]

As a chairman of the Belconnen Arts Centre, Philip Nizette plays an important role in the artistic and cultural development of Belconnen. He is a public artist, landscape architecture, community development worker, public art consultant, and sculptor.^[10] In 1992, he became a community art worker in the area and a member of Belconnen's cultural program, helping to organize several Belconnen festivals. In addition, he is also a former member and chairman of Strathnairn Arts, helping to plan various community art activities and development projects in Belconnen and the Town Centre.^[11]

Govert Mellink[]

Govert works as deputy chair at the Belconnen Arts Centre. He has worked for non-profit institutions and public places on three continents, which are Asia, Australia, and Europe for over 20 years, including institutions of education, local, federal and state governments, and other representative bodies. Currently, he works as Director, People and Organisation Consulting at PwC.^[11]

See also[]

• List of museums in the Australian Capital Territory

References[]