The Tuggeranong Arts Centre will be more comfortable and more accessible. Photo: ACT Government.
The Tuggeranong Arts Centre has pulled back the curtains on its revamped theatre, following the first major refurbishment since the venue opened in 1998.
The $2 million upgrade has officially opened and has transformed the 98-seat theatre into a more “accessible and technically advanced” space, while also solving the “disruptions and discomfort” the old one caused artists and audiences.
Renamed the ‘Wood-Mico Theatre’, the space honours two people who helped establish the Arts Centre in the first place: Bill Wood, ACT Arts Minister in the 1990s, who secured initial funding for its construction, and Dominic Mico, a passionate advocate for community arts and a former director of the centre.
The centre’s foyer has been refreshed with new flooring and a redesigned retail space showcasing work by local artists.
Inside the auditorium itself, there’s new seating, carpet, stage drapes, acoustic panelling and digital projection gear designed to lift both comfort and performance standards.
Behind the scenes, a fully accessible dressing room fitted with modern bathrooms, full-scale mirrors, improved lighting and digital stage feeds has been added.
Upgraded audio, lighting and projection systems mean more ambitious productions are now possible.
There’s more wheelchair seating and hearing loops. Photo: Tuggeranong Arts Centre.
Accessibility was a key focus of the refurbishment, with new hearing loops, improved wheelchair seating, and upgraded accessible parking at the front of the centre.
Tuggeranong Arts Centre CEO Caroline Downer said the upgrades would “unlock new possibilities for our theatre”.
“Enhanced lighting, sound and backstage tech mean we can stage more ambitious productions. Artists benefit from better access, and patrons enjoy greater comfort and accessibility,” she said.
The refurbished theatre opened with a showcase event of short performances attended by the artistic community, industry professionals and government ministers.
Cassidy Buxton, the centre’s marketing manager, said the upgrade had been years in the making, with the funding application lodged with the government in 2020.
“This is the first upgrade to the theatre since opening in 1998. Theatre performances were compromised by outdated technology and an aging auditorium, creating disruptions and discomfort for our artists and audiences,” she said.
“The upgrade provides exciting opportunities to expand our theatre program. It will allow TAC to program shows that require more complex technical requirements, with special lighting effects, improved sound and projection, and backstage comms, opening up many more options.”
The theatre is available for hire, with a conference package starting from $417. Photo: Tuggeranong Arts Centre.
The renaming of the theatre recognises both Bill Wood AM and Dominic Mico AM, whose work was instrumental in the centre’s foundation.
“Bill Wood was ACT Arts Minister and made provision for $1.75 million for the construction. Dominic Mico was Tuggeranong Community Arts Association’s first Community Arts Officer and later its Director, and had a particular interest in theatre,” Ms Buxton explained.
Minister for Business, Arts and Creative Industries, Michael Pettersson MLA, said the upgrades would ensure the centre remains a “dynamic hub for creativity and connection in South Canberra”.
“These upgrades mark the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the Tuggeranong Arts Centre,” he said.
Visit Tuggeranong Arts Centre for its full program of events.
