The Belconnen Arts Centre is an arts facility 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 with support from volunteers.

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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

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]

From 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 be in charge of the construction of phase two. Work on-site begun in December 2018,[4] with the new wing including a 400-seat black box theatre and an additional exhibition space officially opened 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) and 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 by supporting the of start dance classes. Participants also have attended activities in other art centres except for weekly classes. IMB Foundation has sustained this program by continuously 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 experience in 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 by the Australian Dance Awards in 2017.[9][10]

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 architect, community development worker, public art consultant and sculptor.[11] 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.[12]

Govert Mellink

Mellink works as deputy chair at the Belconnen Arts Centre. He has worked for non-profit institutions and public places on three continents which such as 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 for People and Organisation Consulting at PwC.[12]

See also

• List of museums in the Australian Capital Territory

References