In 2020, Metro Arts will celebrate 40 years of creating, developing and presenting new Australian work across performance and exhibitions with a festival and a planned move to new premises.
Metro Arts’ new vision for the next 40 years was unveiled at a public meeting and promises to be as bold, brave and daring as its artists and audiences. As CEO and Creative Director Jo Thomas said, “Metro Arts is not just a building, it’s a dynamic multi-arts organisation and suite of creative services deserving of an inspiring, well-maintained, inclusive and accessible home. It’s time for a bold new direction and a new, modern, fit-for-purpose home will allow us to refocus our priorities on supporting more artists, developing more new work, invigorating Brisbane’s cultural scene and providing exceptional experiences to audiences.”
In recent years it has become clear that the 129-year-old building at 109 Edward Street, which the organisation has called home since 1980, is no longer the most suitable venue for the innovative arts organisation. A limited scope to adapt the State Heritage-listed building to meet Metro Arts’ requirements and a challenging financial situation within the sector did not support the future vision of Metro Arts, its artists and audiences, Jo said.
Chair of the Board John Dunleavy said: “Metro Arts has a long history of re-inventing itself in response to the community’s needs. This is our next step.”
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