The SA Government has secured the future of the Hopgood Theatre through an agreement between TAFE SA and the City of Onkaparinga. The 25-year lease agreement will also include a grant of $6 million to refurbish the theatre.
“The 492-seat Hopgood Theatre has provided the southern suburbs and Fleurieu Peninsula with a facility for theatre and performing arts since it opened in 1985,” says Minister for Education, Training and Skills, Blair Boyer.
“Having broader support to provide a refurbished theatre to support local artists to entertain large crowds, while also providing schools with an event and education space, will provide many benefits for the local community.”
The State Government has collaborated with a number of key stakeholders to also ensure increased funding for the management of the theatre with no additional cost to ratepayers. The agreement includes an annual peppercorn lease consideration.
As part of the arrangement, Country Arts SA will continue to operate the theatre until 30 June 2023 before it is transferred over to the City of Onkaparinga.
“Our goal – and that of our residents and the SA arts community – has always been to make sure the Hopgood Theatre continues serving the community for decades to come, and this decision does that,” says City of Onkaparinga Acting Mayor, Simon McMahon.
“Thank you to Minister Boyer and the State Government for their commitment to finding a long-term solution for the Hopgood Theatre with us.
“A big thank you again to local residents, the arts community, and local and federal MPs who fiercely advocated with us when the theatre’s future was in doubt—without your resolve and passion, it’s unlikely we’d be in the fantastic position we find ourselves.”
This comes following four years of tireless campaigning and advocacy from local federal and state members including Katrine Hildyard, Chris Picton, Nat Cook, Erin Thompson, Leon Bignell and Amanda Rishworth.
“We are relishing the triumph of people power in the four year battle to save this wonderful community arts and cultural facility from the ill-conceived attempts by the former government to force its closure,” says Save the Hopgood campaigner, Harry Dewar.
“The future of the Hopgood Theatre and its continued contribution to the life of this community is at last secured and I thank everyone for their unwavering and tenacious leadership in the fight.”
Improvements to the theatre will include maintenance work, an upgrade to sound and lighting systems and re-roofing of the theatre.
Find Hopgood Theatre at Ramsay Place, Noarlunga Centre SA 5168.
To find out more, click here.
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