The Art House opened its doors in Wyong in 2016, and in only six short years, has positioned itself as a venue of national significance, recently winning Performing Arts Centre of the Year at the 2022 PAC Australia Impact Awards.
The award recognises The Art House as a leading arts organisation and acknowledges its contribution to the community, artists, and region as a destination, through its dedication to presenting renowned live performance locally.
The PAC Australia Impact Awards (previously known as the Drover Awards) have been recognising excellence in performing arts since 2003.
The awards celebrate excellence in performing arts, leadership, new thinking, and best practice, with a focus on lasting impact in communities.
The Art House won one of eight awards hot off the back of their win as Business of the Year at the Business Wyong Awards in July.
Executive Director, Anne-Marie Heath said the Art House was thrilled to be a part of Australian Theatre’s “night of nights” held at the Sydney Opera House and to bring the Central Coast into the spotlight to pave the way for arts communities across Australia outside the major cities.
“We are both proud and humbled to receive such a recognition as a young theatre,” she said.
“It’s been wonderful to witness and be a part of the transformation of Wyong and contribute to arts and culture on the Central Coast and it’s only with the wonderful support of our Central Coast community that we can be named Performing Arts Centre of the Year.
“The Art House has had a direct impact on local businesses with restaurants and bars busy on show nights, a significant increase of bookings in hotels and accommodations , by both audiences and touring performers/companies, and audiences travelling from Newcastle through to Upper Sydney.
“As a brand-new venue, I’d like to thank every Art House team member for their commitment to delivering the best experience for audiences and leading a celebration of the value of the Arts to the Central Coast,” Heath said.
She said The Art House had hosted groups from numerous primary and secondary schools, showcased a number of local dance companies, delivered professional workshops to the community, and formed a close relationship with NAISDA (Australia’s elite Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander performing arts training college, which is based on the Central Coast.
It is now expanding its focus to create and develop original works with artists and creatives of the Central Coast.
Source:
Media release, Sept 19
The Art House