Future Melbourne: Southbank arts precinct to become a 24/7 destination in the future

TURNING Melbourne’s unique arts precinct in to a pedestrian-friendly destination that links the city’s key arts venues is at the heart of a future vision for the area.

TURNING Melbourne’s unique arts precinct in to a pedestrian-friendly destination that links the city’s key arts venues is at the heart of a future vision for the area.

The Melbourne Arts Precinct at Southbank — stretching from the Yarra to the end of Sturt Street — is a critical mass of ideas and creative energy thanks to the proximity of Arts Centre Melbourne, the National Gallery of Victoria, the Victorian College of the Arts, Melbourne Theatre Company, Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne Recital Centre and the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art (ACCA).

But the precinct has never felt cohesive or been pedestrian friendly. That’s changing.

In 10 to 15 years’ time, ACCA director Max Delany can see its fragmented parts coming together and teeming with visitors 24/7.

“We have the most extraordinary infrastructure here,’’ he said.

“Let’s create stronger links between all these institutions and activate the precinct so there’s way more street life.”

“People increasingly want to encounter contemporary art in the widest way,’’ he says.

“They like to see and do many things at once as well — visit a gallery, see a show, go to a restaurant.

With a whole dormitory suburb (Southbank-South Melbourne) at our door, there’s no reason why we cannot be that kind of destination.’’

Reinvigorating the Melbourne Arts Precinct as an “open, accessible and integrated hub’’ will take time and money.

But Delany detects strong support among residents, students and visitors for new initiatives that “build a sense of place’’ beyond the confines of Sturt St.

A 2014 blueprint for the Melbourne Arts Precinct laid the groundwork, recommending “better connections’’ between institutions, improved signposting and the creative use of vacant sites.

Delany is especially interested in the area around Dodds Street between the VCA and ACCA — anchored by Ron Robertson-Swann’s infamous yellow ‘Vault’ sculpture — and believes the public’s “growing appetite for contemporary art’’ can be an engine for change.

Public sculptures here, pop up installations there.

The neighbourhood benefits also from a concentration of arts companies such as Chunky Move, the Melbourne Symphony, the Australian Ballet and Opera Australia.

Delany explains: “Melbourne has always been very committed to art and culture and in this precinct, we have a dynamic network of small to medium size organisations operating alongside major institutions.

That artistic biodiversity is something to embrace as we go forward.’’