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Arts Centre Takes Shape

A bold vision for performing arts in Ballarat is coming to life with a little help from Community Bank Buninyong.


Community Bank Buninyong provided $15,000 in seed funding to assist the Ballarat Performing Arts Community (BPAC) with essential site occupation costs during the first year of transforming the long‑vacant Neill Street Uniting Church into the Ballarat Performing Arts Centre.


The support has made a real difference in BPAC’s early progress. It helped the organisation:

  • Bring together more than 15 separate performing arts groups under a shared purpose

  • Preserve and rescue a heritage church site from further dereliction

  • Improve the facility to a “fit for use” standard and secure a planning permit for future arts events.

Treasurer Millie Koenders said the grant was a welcome boost at a critical time.

“We were very pleased and relieved to receive the $15k seed funding from BDFSL. As a new umbrella organisation representing the performing arts community, we had taken on a 12‑month lease of the property from the Uniting Church with an estimated liability of $52k and no tangible asset base. The grant bought us time to establish our hall‑hire rental business and other income streams", Millie said.

BPAC has established an effective board representing its diverse member organisations and a dedicated team working to maintain the site and organise performing arts events. While the next phase (acquiring the site and progressing master planning to bring the buildings up to current standards) remains a significant task, the network and momentum are strong.


The project reflects the power of collaboration and the positive impact that early‑stage funding can have on community cultural infrastructure.


We’re doing good things together. To find out how visit www.communitygrowshere.com.au 🌏Call our branch locally in Buninyong on (03) 5341 8066 or email 📧 buninyongmailbox@bendigoadelaide.com.au


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