Reimagining

Reimagining Arts Centre Melbourne, Transforming the Melbourne Arts Precinct

Arts Centre Melbourne is committed to remaining open throughout construction works. You can still enjoy shows and events as normal, with a range of food and drink options available. The carpark will also remain open. Read more about your visit during this period.

Together with the Victorian Government, we’re Reimagining Arts Centre Melbourne as part of the Melbourne Arts Precinct Transformation – a city-changing project that will cement Melbourne’s unique positioning as Australia’s cultural and creative capital.

Bringing world-class facilities to an iconic Melbourne building

For the first time since it opened in 1984, Arts Centre Melbourne will receive major upgrades and its glorious heritage elements will be refurbished. The beloved State Theatre will be enhanced with new accessible seating – providing the opportunity for more Victorians to enjoy live performance in the venue.

Reimagining access

For the first time in its nearly 40-year history, patrons with mobility issues can choose to sit across all three seating levels and ticketing reserves in the State Theatre. Further changes include:

Introducing two new aisles in the stalls to support access for patrons with mobility challenges
New lifts so that patrons with mobility challenges can easily move from the foyers to their seats
New seats, flooring and amenity treatments to improve audience comfort.

Reimagining our back-of-house amenities

The magic that comes to life on stage will be even better, thanks to new amenities for our performers.

A new accessible Stage Door
An expanded Loading Dock – doubling the size of our existing underground space, improving safety and efficiency when bumping-in performances
A new, flexible Rehearsal Space and Studio, with an adjoining Function Room that gives a sneak peek inside
A new State-of-the-art flying system, which was completed in 2020
Broadcast capability to bring performances into schools and homes.

Reimagining the visitor experience

As well as upgrades and improvements to technology, accessibility and amenity made behind-the-scenes and inside the State Theatre, the Theatres Building will also offer more on the outside. Space for two new food and beverage outlets will give visitors more options for pre- and post-show dining – opening onto the Melbourne Arts Precinct’s expansive new 18,000 square metre urban garden.

Transforming our precinct

The transformation of the Melbourne Arts Precinct is Australia’s largest cultural infrastructure project. In addition to this important upgrade to Arts Centre Melbourne, the project includes building a new art and design gallery, The Fox: NGV Contemporary, and the creation of a new 18,000 square metres expansive urban garden. This public space will connect Arts Centre Melbourne with our neighbouring attractions and offer artistic and creative programming to draw even more visitors to the heart of the Melbourne Arts Precinct. This will reimagine a visit to Arts Centre Melbourne, providing a richer experience and making the whole precinct easier to navigate with more to see and do, and more enjoyable to explore.

Later project phases: what the future holds

We have more exciting plans for the future too as we reimagine Arts Centre Melbourne for the next generations of Victorians and visitors. First announced by the Victorian Government in 2018, future stages of the Melbourne Arts Precinct Transformation include a new centre for creativity with spaces and facilities for education, workshops, and creative development, a new gallery to house the Australian Performing Arts Collection and a home for the Australian Music Vault. Inside the Theatres Building further refurbishment will include upgrades to the theatre foyers and renewal of the Playhouse and Fairfax Studio.