ALL EYES in Belconnen will be upon the next ACT Budget to see if there’s anything in it to help with Stage Two of the Belconnen Arts Centre.

When Stage One was opened, the then-Chief Minister Jon Stanhope challenged the community to fill it with arts activity before funds would be allocated to the next part of its development, which was to include a proper performance space—the Members and Board of Belconnen Arts Centre Incorporated believe they’ve done that.

In a strongly-worded statement, the board has called on the ACT Government to use its next budget to complete what it calls “the most anticipated investment in community and cultural infrastructure planned to serve the people of north and west Canberra, the Belconnen Arts Centre”.

Always considered a two stage project, it says, the Arts Centre first opened in 2009 and a commitment in the upcoming ACT budget to complete the arts centre on its key lakeside and Belconnen town centre location would see it delivered to the people and communities of the north and west Canberra by 2020, and just in time to meet a goal of the ACT Governments own infrastructure plan.

It is well known that stakeholders were disappointed in the absence of funding in recent budgets. There are plans ready to go, including detailed cost estimates, a development approval is in place and the boards says over $500,000 has  already been committed in planning for a completed Belconnen Arts Centre.

Acting chair Phil Nizette comments, “We are bursting at the seams. Belconnen Arts Centre has fantastic programs for everyone, and it recently earned national recognition for its projects for artists with mixed ability by securing funding from both the Australia Council and the new ‘Catalyst’ fund in what now must be one of the most competitive arts funding environments ever. The Chief Minister recently awarded us our third ‘Inclusion’ Award.”

Nizette continues, “We sorely lack a true performing arts space that will double as a place for people to meet and celebrate in Belconnen town centre, a 21st century Town Hall if you like. And we sit on the last undeveloped stretch of town centre lakeside. Arts Centres generate real economic benefits and we know a completed building and its programs, especially live performances, will drive renewal of the Emu Bank precinct as envisaged under the new Belconnen Town Centre Master Plan.”