Raina Savage has a clear vision of Goulburn's new performing arts centre five years down the track.
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Just over two months into her role as manager, she's wasted no time talking to production and theatre companies, local groups and organisations, schools and more. Planning is well underway for the 2022 season and beyond at the 400-seat performing arts centre, due for completion later this year.
"In five years I hope that people will be excited about the PAC, that they know what's going on there and there's an exciting program with high quality performances," she said.
"I'd like to see it putting on big productions for the community, for them to be involved and the space to be activated to the point where it's a place to also eat and lots of people take part in workshops. I want there to be a buzz in the main street."
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Energy doesn't appear to be lacking in Ms Savage. After growing up in Braidwood, she later worked as a native title lawyer in Western Australia. While there she harnessed her love of festivals, voluntarily growing a one-day event to a 10-day one over four years. She said she'd always had a love of street theatre and bring performance to the people.
The experience catapulted her into community arts and gallery management. Five years ago Ms Savage joined Griffith Council as regional arts and museum manager but also channeled her passion for performance into street theatre and festivals, embracing diverse groups.
When the Goulburn role emerged, it was a chance to move closer to and family, Sydney and Canberra.
"It was also an opportunity to come in right at the beginning. The idea of being part of the PAC opening up and putting my stamp on it at the start, to be involved in decisions, the culture of the place and staffing was extremely exciting for me. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity," she said.
With theatres, festivals and music production houses planning schedules three years ahead, Ms Savage said it was essential that talks started now.
She sees the PAC as the "hub of a wheel" that not only stages major productions but embraces and fills gaps in the local arts and culture scene. To this end she has been talking to schools and organisations, like the Hume Conservatorium about their needs.
The centre could also accommodate the annual eisteddfod and the Goulburn Community of Public Schools Concert, if they wished. Both have struggled with adequate venues in recent years.
"It's important that PAC is a resource that benefits the community, so that if, for example, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra comes here, it can do workshops and master classes for locals," she said.
"...I want it to include diverse groups within the community and increase participation and engagement in the performing arts."
Ms Savage hopes young people interested in a theatre or music career can undertake traineeships and work experience there.
She is keen to lure the Australian Ballet, theatre companies like Bell Shakespeare, the Bangarra Dance Company, touring tribute shows, musicalls and much more. Some had never considered Goulburn before.
In the 2022 season shows will include musical theatre, dance, opera, circus arts, comedy and shows targeted at children. Events generally will be targeted at a wide cross section of the community.
She stressed the need for accessibility through affordable fees and utilising different parts of the PAC for varied events like school presentations, networking and community meetings. To this end, Ms Savage had strong input into a draft schedule of fees, currently on public exhibition through the council budget.
More key staff such as a technical coordinator and box office person will come on board from about July.
Construction reaching pointy end
The PAC will adaptively re-use the 1887 former Goulburn town hall, more recently the McDermott Centre. Zauner Constructions started the $18.9 million project in early 2020.
The large auditorium and stage at the rear has taken shape. A council spokesman said work was continuing on the internal fit-out and service installation. Gyprock has been installed on some inside walls and framing for toilets, the auditorium and back of house was underway, a council spokesman said. The kitchen is being redesigned in order to accommodate a larger cool room.
By the time a large crane is removed on May 22 all structural steel for the fly-tower will be in place and the roof will be installed.
"Scaffolding in the auditorium will come out and it will start to look like an auditorium," Ms Savage said.
Large glass doors and panels will provide the transition to the auditorium. Zauner Constructions has reused original elements like timber on the former council chambers' ceiling where possible.
The project is scheduled to finish by December. A committee comprising local arts representatives has been working on a late February, 2022 opening night function. A special work has been commissioned to highlight the city's performing arts history and future.
Ms Savage, who has moved to Goulburn and immersed herself in its heritage, said she was excited about the immense possibilities.
"It is a beautiful old building and I love the fact that it being preserved and given a new lease of life," she said.
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