Green light for multi-art facility

An artist’s impression of the Multi Arts Place (MAP) – Lake Macquarie Council.

A state-of-the-art facility funded by Create NSW’s Regional Cultural Fund is on track to showcase contemporary art and performance in Lake Macquarie within 12 months.

Following development approval last week, the Multi Art Place (MAP) at Speers Point Park will be the first of its kind on Australia’s east coast, providing an innovative arts pavilion, including a flexible platform for cutting-edge multimedia exhibitions, contemporary installations, performance, music and community events.

Lake Macquarie Council received funding through the Regional Cultural Fund to help realise its vision of a contemporary, architect-designed space that would nurture creative development.

Council’s Arts, Culture and Tourism Manager Jacqui Hemsley said MAP would also include a hybrid stage and multi-arts space that could be divided for workshops, pop-up events and creative engagement programs.

“The space will be an ideal stepping-stone for emerging artists, and a platform to present alternative art to new audiences,” Ms Hemsley said.
University of Newcastle architecture student Samantha Bailey’s winning design for MAP was one of dozens submitted by students from the University of Newcastle’s School of Architecture and Built Environment in a design competition in 2018. Chris Tucker, Samantha Bailey, and other students from the University of Newcastle have been working closely with Council and the NSW Government on the project.

Construction is expected to start in the second half of 2020 and be completed in mid-2021. Stay up-to-date with the project at lakemac.com.au/Projects/Multi-Arts-Place.

Image: An artist’s impression of the Multi Arts Place (MAP) – Lake Macquarie Council.

Published: 8 July 2020