Extensive damage to its previous home at Lismore City Hall has led to the inspiration and drive for Northern Rivers Performing Arts (NORPA) to reach for a dedicated home that will support innovative theatre-making and provide a dynamic, creative space for the community to engage with story and performance.
Lismore MP Janelle Saffin has helped secure NSW government funding that will join with funding from the Northern Rivers Community Foundation (NRCF) and community supporters that will enable NORPA to make a new home in the former Hampton & Larsson timber joinery works in the heart of Lismore’s CBD.
‘The future NORPA envisions for The Joinery is transforming the historic joinery factory into a flood-resilient, world’s best practice arts hub, right in the heart of Lismore,’ say NORPA on their website.
Sam Henderson, NRCF CEO said, ‘At NRCF, we’ve seen how powerful community-led projects can be. The arts connect us — they express who we are and help shape our regional identity’.
Temporary office
Ms Saffin, who is also NSW Minister for Recovery and the North Coast, said two separate state grants would fund immediate repairs of a historic industrial building, allowing NORPA to create a temporary office and theatre-making studio.
‘The Joinery is an ambitious adaptive project which will transform an old factory into a flood-resilient creative hub, a welcome addition to an arts precinct close by which already boasts a regional art gallery, conservatorium and library,’ Ms Saffin said.
‘NORPA, an iconic Northern Rivers cultural institution known for its world-class theatre productions, has big plans for a larger development of the site in the longer term but for now it’s great that they have a permanent foothold for revitalisation and growth.’
NORPA Artistic Director, Julian Louis said: ‘We are grateful to MP Janelle Saffin and the many champions in Government and our community who have supported this project.
‘The Joinery has the potential to be a creative satellite – a place that nurtures bold ideas and reflects the unique culture of our region.
‘It will play an important role in the vibrancy, economy, and well-being of where we live. We also see it as a project of adaptation – where the arts is central to our recovery.’
NORPA Chair, Damian Kassabgi agreed saying, ‘repairing and utilising this building is a vital step in NORPA’s return to Lismore and a powerful act of cultural renewal. Most importantly it gives NORPA and our artistic community a home.’
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