One of the strengths of the site for the new performing arts venue is its location on a prominent corner of the Perth Cultural Centre. However, planning authorities are in the preliminary stages of planning a dramatic transformation of the Centre and many important issues relating to the context of the new building are yet to be resolved. A vision for the district as a whole has been developed which includes a discussion of the contribution the new performing arts venue will make to the revitalisation of the Centre. The following section outlines key points of the vision.
Revitalising the Perth Cultural Centre
The Perth Cultural Centre will:
- be a place where people come together to exchange ideas and experiences about arts, culture, and our social environment
- attract a large and diverse group of people, of all ages and at all stages of cultural involvement, who want to make connections with each other, or with arts and cultural experiences that speak about Western Australia, its present, past and future
- be a vibrant, lively, and safe place, and one where people feel equally comfortable being involved, observing what others are doing, or simply just sitting in a contemplative space
- attract artists, creators and researchers who want to explore and exchange ideas. Artist studios will encourage artists to base their working lives in the Centre
- attract students of all ages who want to expand their learning environment and be stimulated by the built environment of the Centre itself, and the people who work in or visit the Centre
- attract businesses aligned to the culture and arts sector
- attract families and city workers who want to spend time there as it will be place where they can be stimulated and inspired by a constantly changing array of activities and experiences.
The Centre will be a dynamic hub whose connections extend beyond the boundaries of the precinct to stimulate the whole city and, indeed, the State. Major cultural institutions, arts companies, and individual artists, will lead the way in spreading the impact of their art forms through new and innovative programs and technologies.
Realising the vision for the Perth Cultural Centre
The vision for the Centre will be realised through strategies that create a distinct identity for the Centre, focusing on culture, arts and the broader community. Strategies include:
Creating a civic space
Modification of the physical environment, the introduction of high tech developments such as large screens on the perimeters of the Centre, better coordination between the arts and cultural institutions in the Centre, and greater use of the open spaces in the Centre are some of the strategies for creating a much needed civic space for the people of Perth.
Creating a cohesive identity
Organisations operating from the cultural facilities in the Centre will have an outward focus and will be looking to find synergies between one another in all that they do. Cross branding and marketing of programs, activities spanning more than one institution, shared platforms - both physical and virtual, and large screens at the perimeters of the Centre showing material to attract people passing by, are some of the strategies that will contribute to a more cohesive environment.
24/7 activities
Strategies to encourage full activation of the Centre are a priority. The desire of the large institutions to open into the evenings, along with the presence of bands, ensembles, poets, artists, public artworks, artist studios, outdoor performances, and information trails (both day and night), along with restaurants, cafes and related activities, will lead to a sense of action and excitement in the Centre and will be a draw-card for people seeking stimulation and entertainment in the evenings. At the same time, these activities will enhance public safety in the area.
Importantly, the people of Perth have expressed a clear desire for experiencing more cultural activities in open spaces and the Centre is well positioned to provide this.
There is no other place in Perth where, within the one precinct, the community can so readily express itself in cultural and artistic terms. Fortunately, the precinct is well positioned to engage the community as a broad cross-section of the community walk through it from adjacent spaces on their way to and from work, education facilities, the surrounding entertainment areas and so on. There is no other place where the activity within a centre will capture the imaginations of people ranging from tourists to city workers, in the way that the Centre will be able to do.
Until now, the Perth Cultural Centre has been an area whose potential has not been realised. It has hovered between being a precinct that houses the major collecting institutions of the State and some smaller arts organisations, and a physical place that has been treated largely as a thoroughfare during the day and a focal point for antisocial activities at night. Its reason for being has been difficult to grasp, and the negative physical and social aspects of the Centre have tended to negate the existing benefits that the major cultural institutions can provide for the community.
The vision for the Perth Cultural Centre seeks to overcome these impediments, and to use the urban renewal project as a springboard for making the Perth Cultural Centre a creative village at the heart of the city of Perth, of which the city and State can be justly proud.
The contribution of the Performing Arts Venue
The vision of the new performing arts venue has been framed in relation to the broader concept of the future of the Cultural Centre as outlined above, as well as the more immediate demands of Perth’s performing arts community and international and interstate industry partners. The vision for the project posits a new performing arts facility that will:
Satisfy the needs and expectations of the performing arts community
The brief for the building has been developed through exhaustive consultation with industry experts, facility managers, production designers and artists. It represents a general consensus on the functional criteria on which this building will be assessed, and the scope and inter-relationships of anticipated facilities. Any significant deviation from the building brief is tantamount to a “breach of faith” between the State Government and the arts community and should be avoided, except where an adjustment to the provisions of the brief has multiple unforeseen benefits, or is suggested by recent technological advances or emerging industry trends.
Stand the test of time
The new facility must find a satisfactory balance between plasticity and permanence. To maintain its place as the premium performance venue of Perth, the new facility must offer opportunities to adapt to changing production methods and industry fashions – not through periodic renovation or structural change but by providing adaptable spaces that can accommodate multiple uses and reasonable activity changes over time. At the same time, the visibility and urban design significance of the site challenges the new building to achieve the durability and permanence of an enduring landmark of the city of Perth.
Become a catalyst for change
The new facility will support innovation and experimentation in the performing arts sector through provision of state-of-the-art facilities for innovation in production methods and staging techniques, attracting new audiences, and promotion of synergies between different areas of the arts. In addition to its impact on the production and delivery of the performing art, the new building plays a critical role in promoting the revitalisation and consolidation of the Northbridge cultural and entertainment district. Its impact as an urban design catalyst is just as important as its effects on the arts community and its industry operations.
Provide a place that people want to take ownership of, use and recommend
To become a Perth landmark that the industry and wider community recognise as an important asset of living in Western Australia, the new performing arts venue will be a place that:
- people can identify with
- is not intimidating or difficult to use
- is accessible to all
- has a welcoming ambience
- promotes positive interaction and synergies between uses and users
- contributes to a memorable performance experience
- fosters independence as well as inter-dependence
- creates an expectation of excellence
