The Church takes shape as Geelong's future home of local live performance

Geelong Arts Centre welcomes Minister for Creative Industries, Colin Brooks, for his first site visit to view progress on the interior restoration of The Church on Ryrie Street — Geelong’s future home for live music, comedy, and performance.

Geelong Arts Centre Chair, Lesley Alway and CEO & Creative Director, Rhys Holden hosted a special tour that included Minister Brooks speaking with Geelong-based artists to further understand the impact this new space will have for nurturing local live performance. Significant structural works were revealed, including acoustic enhancements to deliver this venue back to the community use as a low-cost performance space.

Set to open in 2026, this intimate, artist-led venue will become a dedicated and affordable space for independent and emerging artists to present their work, nurturing diverse voices and supporting sustainable regional artistic careers.

Supported by the Geelong community, for local artists, The Church Interior Redevelopment has been enabled by the generosity of many donors through the Geelong Arts Centre’s The Church Giving Campaign.

The Church Redevelopment project is led by Geelong Arts Centre with Plan Group appointed to deliver the interior redevelopment construction alongside LIMINAL Architecture.

The project is supporting more than 165 roles across 20 Victorian businesses, including 11 Geelong-based subcontractors to perform the works required on the heritage building, from demolition, concrete and formwork – to electrical and fire services.

For more information or to make a tax-deductible donation, visit www.geelongartscentre.org.au

Quotes attributable to Minister for Creative Industries, Colin Brooks

“Geelong is one of Australia’s fastest growing regional cities and the Allan Labor Government has been proud to invest $180 million in the redevelopment and expansion of Geelong Arts Centre, making it the largest dedicated regional arts centre in the country.”

“Driven by a strong partnership with the local community and the generous support of donors through The Church Giving Campaign, The Church opens up yet another unique creative space, transforming this historic building into a new home for independent artists across the region to create and share their work.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Geelong Christine Couzens

“The Church is a great example of how Geelong backs its growing creative community, transforming a much-valued heritage building into a venue where local artists can collaborate, rehearse and perform in a safe space where they can express themselves."

"This redevelopment is creating jobs now and will continue to create more opportunities for performers and audiences when the doors open in 2026.”

Quote attributable to Chair, Geelong Performing Arts Centre Trust, Lesley Alway

“Thanks to incredible support from our passionate donors, construction is now underway on Geelong Art Centre’s Church Redevelopment project, marking an important step in creating a vital performance hub for the region.”

“Our fundraising campaign is ongoing to ensure we have essential operational equipment in place to open the doors by early 2026. We are so close to our campaign target and are calling out to potential supporters to help us make immediate impact on the local artist community. All donations over $2 are tax deductible”

Quote attributable to CEO and Creative Director, Geelong Arts Centre Rhys Holden 

“We are pleased to reveal the significant works underway to restore The Church, set to become Geelong’s new home for emerging creative talent. From intimate gigs and standup comedy to contemporary performance and creative development – this venue will deliver our region’s artists and creators an affordable and accessible space to create and present their work.”

About The Church

Thanks to incredible donations from a passionate community, construction is now underway on Geelong Art Centre’s Church Redevelopment project, marking an important step in creating a new space for live performance in Geelong.

Set to open in early 2026, the renewed church on Ryrie Street will be a space designed with local artists in mind, especially independent and emerging voices. It will offer an intimate, flexible venue that supports local talent and helps build lasting creative careers in the region.

The Church’s historic façade, once tucked behind the old Band of Hope building, was restored during the 2019 Ryrie Street redevelopment, funded by the Victorian Government. The façade will remain, while the internal is now being upgraded with essential structural work, acoustic treatment, and other improvements to bring the venue up to standard to deliver this venue back to the community use as a low-cost performance space.

This project is being made possible thanks to generous contributions to The Church Giving Campaign which has so far raised $2.8 million with fundraising is still ongoing to reach a campaign target of $3.3m. This will ensure Geelong Arts Centre can provide artists with the support and resources they need to gain hands-on experience producing live events, refine their practice and access an affordable, well-equipped space from day one when the venue opens in early 2026.

By supporting the project, community can help create something long lasting — a space where creativity can thrive and a new chapter for the arts in Geelong can begin.

For more information or to make a tax-deductible donation, visit www.geelongartscentre.org.au