Belconnen Arts Centre

Belconnen Arts Centre is a multidisciplinary arts venue in Belconnen, Canberra, bringing together visual arts, theatre, music, dance and creative learning. Its programme is designed for different kinds of visits, from a solo gallery stop or workshop to an evening of live music, theatre or pre-show dining by the lake.

The centre’s exhibitions are a major drawcard. Its current programme includes a suite of exhibitions by First Nations artists, with work by Alana Harris, Leilani Dewis, Uncle Thomas Brown (Senior), Richie Allan, Corella & Crow, and the Yawarj Mara Young Men’s Group. Another listed exhibition, More or Less, considers scale, quantity and the sense of awe an artwork can create, and is presented at the SLA Display Village in Whitlam.

There is also a strong live-programme focus. Smith’s@Belco presents monthly live music, including a listed performance by Australian jazz vocalist Emma Pask, while The Girl on the Train brings a stage adaptation of Paula Hawkins’ mystery to the venue in a Mockingbird Theatre Company production directed by Chris Baldock. Afterlight adds a different evening experience, presenting short digital artworks across the lakeside facade after sundown during the non-daylight-saving months.

For hands-on participation, the centre offers classes and workshops as well as exhibitions and performances. The listed Infuse workshop with Henry Shawcross invites participants to turn discarded fabric into textile collage, making it suitable for people interested in practical, creative activity. The venue also includes a lakeside café-bar-restaurant serving coffee, food and drinks, with pre-show dining available. With its mix of galleries, performance spaces, workshops, outdoor-facing digital art and hospitality, Belconnen Arts Centre suits arts-focused outings, cultural dates, small groups and visitors exploring Canberra’s creative community.