Council Calls on Northern Beaches Wealthy to Help Fund $20m Performing Arts Centre
Robbie Patterson, Manly Daily
August 17, 2017 4:18pm
A $20 MILLION performing arts centre would be unveiled at Mona Vale Public School under an ambitious plan to encourage wealthy residents to help fund it.
It would be built — pending a favourable business case and feasibility study to be prepared by Northern Beaches Council — on land next to the school owned by the Education Department.
The centre would be used by pupils while also providing the only modern, public performance space on the peninsula, apart from Glen Street Theatre.
Mona Vale Public School principal Greg Jones said it would be a huge win for educational facilities on the peninsula’s north.
Students from Mona Vale Public School with Northern Beaches Council administrator Dick Persson and council officials, Pittwater state Liberal MP Rob Stokes and principal Greg Jones
“Just between Mona Vale and Pittwater high schools alone there are more than 1000 students in ensembles,” Mr Jones said.
“It is a wonderful opportunity to provide a performance space for children in orchestras and music ensembles — it is going to be amazing.”
The council will establish a charitable trust to allow residents to make a deductible donation towards the centre.
The land, fronting Bungan St, was bought from developers planning to build affordable housing on the site five years ago.
Greg Jones, Mona Vale Public School principal on the parcel of land proposed to be used for a theatre. Picture: News Corp.
Education Minister Rob Stokes said the site was inappropriate because it was surrounded by the school on three sides.
“The reason we bought that land back was to facilitate something like this,” he said.
The council is hoping it will enliven the northern end of the peninsula.
Council administrator Dick Persson said: “Building such a space at Mona Vale Public School would be a great opportunity to use existing space for the broader community benefit.
“This would include creating a community organisation/trust whose principal purpose is the promotion of literature, music, performing arts, craft, design, film, video, radio, community arts or television.”
Mr Persson said philanthropic members of the community would be approached.
Mona Vale Public School from Waratah Street. Picture: Annika Enderborg.
“When I was being asked to look at this by Rob Stokes and the principal of the school, they were volunteering the land and I asked what the dollar amount was,” he said.
“It is a large figure, the council doesn’t have the money to do it.
“We have a number of high-wealth individuals in the area and I believe there is every chance there could be a good response.”
Mr Jones said the educational value would be huge.
“We know that students who are engaged in music perform at higher levels. Music is an important part of a balanced and comprehensive education,” he said.
“We have invested a lot in sporting facilities and rightly so but this is an investment in the cultural aspects.”