Overview
In great news for art-lovers everywhere: A brand new arts and culture centre dedicated to hands-on experiences will open at the Sydney Opera House early next year. This purpose-built space will mark the Opera House's first new dedicated programming venue to open in over two decades.
The Centre for Creativity is set to open to the public on Tuesday, January 4 with an exciting variety of contemporary programming.
The centre is a former office space that has been converted to facilitate immersive creative experiences including performances, workshops and installation. It will also create opportunities for the iconic harbourside venue to broaden the range of art and performance events on its calendar.
Highlights of the Centre for Creativity's initial program include interactive House Warming exhibition from multi-disciplinary artist Rosie Deacon which will feature a forest of her joyous and colourful recycled sculptures and artworks; a workshop from western Sydney hip-hop crew CanYouAfro?; a workshop lead by Barkindtji, Yorta Yorta and Dhudaroah artist Tegan Mursock that teaches participants the fundamentals of Aboriginal weaving and wall-hanging; a vogueing class lead by Sydney's Street University.
Rosie Deacon by Daniel Boud
Elsewhere in the lineup, there are design and architecture workshops, meditation sessions, a First Nations Design Day and a series of family-friendly and all ages activations including free monthly drawing tours of the Sydney Opera House.
"The year-round program in the Centre takes inspiration from the three major life forces that course through the Opera House and all it does — the powerful First Nations history of Tubowgule, the magic and science of the building, and the extraordinary art and artists from our stages and community," says Opera House Director of Programming Fiona Winning.
The centre is one of the final projects in the Sydney Opera House's Decade of Renewal. The $275 million ten-year transformation and refurbishment of the Sydney landmark was funded by the NSW Government and included works to the Opera House's Concert Hall, preservation to its Grand Organ and the introduction of new experiences within the building.
Tickets to the inaugural Centre for Creativity go on sale on Friday, November 26 at 9am. First cab off the rank, Rosie Deacon's House Warming is free and open to all-ages, meaning everyone can come explore the new space for free from opening day.
Daniel Boud
The Sydney Opera House's Centre for Creativity will open to the public on Tuesday, January 4. Explore the full inaugural program at the Sydney Opera House website.
Top images: Prudence Upton and Daniel Boud