The City of Gold Coast has a new destination for cultural arts that provides a brilliant platform to artists from all over the world to showcase their diverse talents. Home of the Arts or HOTA, formerly the Arts Centre Gold Coast comes with a spectacular new venue and a brilliant outdoor program beginning with a free concert on 17 March by the internationally acclaimed comedian, composer and singer, Tim Minchin.
HOTA chair, Robyn Archer AO said the whole process from rebranding to creating the venue and cultural program took years of planning. The new $37.5 million arts precinct sits on more than 3,000 square metres of landscaped lawns.
Designed by Australian firm ARM Architecture, the outdoor stage features a bi-fold proscenium door and a self-supporting 100-tonne shade structure.
The stage has been designed for maximum flexibility, and can either be left open for major events or transformed into an intimate black box with cabaret-style seating.
Observing that the new precinct will enable artists from all over the world to converge and perform, create and mentor, City of Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate said that the next phase of construction will begin towards the middle of this year and will involve the building of a new green bridge across to Chevron Island.
This will be followed by a new art gallery, which on completion will be the largest regional art gallery in Australia and will not only showcase the city’s art collection but also host international exhibitors.
Highlights of the first outdoor program at HOTA include Australian music legend Neil Finn and performances by the Queensland Symphony Orchestra. Pioneering musician and film director, Laurie Anderson will take up residency at HOTA this June.
A mural by New York based street artist MOMO has also been installed on the walls of the tower at HOTA.
