Aided by funding from the Victorian Government and The Ian Potter Foundation, Monash University has announced that The Ian Potter Centre for Performing Arts will be opening at the Clayton campus in the coming years, with two new performance venues adjoining the Alexander Theatre.
The 586 seat Alexander Theatre, built in 1967, will undergo a refurbishment as part of the project, and will open in 2018, with the two new buildings, which will feature a 130 seat sound gallery and a 200 seat jazz club, to follow in later years.
Charles Goode, Chairman of the Ian Potter Foundation, which has donated $5 million to the project said: “Monash University’s arts facilities are vital to the cultural life of the University and to the community in this rapidly growing corridor of Melbourne. This redevelopment will completely revitalise the Monash arts precinct, extend the uses of its existing facilities, enhancing their appeal and creating a dynamic space for the University and the hundreds of community groups that rely on its venues.”
A further $10 million has also been promised by the Victorian Government.
40,000 non-student vistors attended events at the Alexander Theatre in the past year, and with companies such as the Melbourne Theatre Company, Playbox Theatre (now the Malthouse Theatre), Bell Shakespeare Company, Bangarra Dance Theatre and Chunky Move already having taken to the stage at the theatre, the university is very excited about this new chapter.
Professor Paul Grabowsky, Executive Director of the Monash Academy of Performing Arts said: “It’s fantastic to see our iconic performing arts venue progress to the next stage and further widen its offering across a diverse spectrum of artistic genres. We will continue to attract the highest calibre of performers to this exciting new space which will provide endless opportunities for our students, staff and the surrounding community into the future.”
For more information on the development, please see the Monash website.
Header image: Artistic impressions, subject to ongoing design resolution
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