Arts and Culture Find a New Home in Cessnock

PACC Refurbishment Gallery, Joseph Turrin and Vicki Sienczuk.

Performance Arts Culture Cessnock (PACC) has long been a home to performing arts in the Hunter Region. Now, the venue looks set to cement its future as a leading cultural hub for the area, with the official opening of its new Exhibition and Artist spaces on Friday, 13 October at 5pm.

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The refurbishment is the culmination of many months of planning and construction, made possible thanks to grant funding obtained under the NSW Government’s Stronger Country Communities Fund, Resources for Regions, and Creative Capital Fund programs, with contributions from Cessnock City Council.

Opening in 2008, the PACC building is the result of the adaptive re-use of two existing buildings on the corner of Aberdare Road and Vincent Street, Cessnock. The complex has been designed using contemporary materials and finishes that subtly contrast with the older structures.

The new Exhibition and Artist spaces inhabit the older section of the complex, originally constructed by one-time Lord Mayor of Newcastle Morris Light as open-plan modern furniture display showrooms. Light was instrumental in raising funds for the Newcastle City Town Hall and Civic Theatre. His Cessnock building is believed to be the first steel-framed building in the area.

The PACC team have been busy curating their inaugural exhibition ‘Artefact’. A retrospective of renowned local Indigenous artist Uncle Les Elvin, the exhibition also features work by artists Lesley Salem (nee Elvin), Saretta Fielding, and Ryan Andrew Lee.

PACC’s Curator of Performing and Creative Arts, Dr. Vicki Sienczuk, hopes the new spaces will help bring art lovers to the Cessnock local government area.

“It’s been a long process from conception to construction. We’re very excited to be at the point now where work is ready to be hung and exhibited.”

An Expression of Interest inviting established artists, emerging artists, curators, arts educators and collectives to submit exhibition proposals, workshops and public programs will be called annually for the PACC Gallery Exhibition and Artist spaces. Exhibition proposals for 2024 are currently open and close on Monday, 13 November 2023.

‘Artefact’ opens Friday 13 October at 5pm and runs until Sunday 26 November. Visit www.mypacc.com.au for more information.