A new cultural landmark is set for Adelaide with the establishment of an Arts & Media Hub in the CBD, following a major partnership between the State Government and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). This initiative will involve a relocation of the ABC from its current headquarters at Collinswood to the Tapangka development site on Franklin Street. Here, it will join forces with the State Theatre Company, State Opera, and Country Arts South Australia to form a dynamic cultural centre.
Slated for completion by 2030/31, the hub will transform the former Adelaide Bus Station into a destination of galleries, studios, and rehearsal spaces. These facilities aim to build creativity and facilitate new collaborative opportunities amongst South Australia’s key arts organisations and the ABC.
The hub will also incorporate residential and commercial developments. Plus, the proximity to the Adelaide Central Market will ensure that Franklin Street becomes a bustling spot for arts, culture, and community.
ABC’s Managing Director, Hugh Marks, shared, “The new home for the ABC Adelaide location is fit for purpose for a modern public broadcaster. Moving to new state-of-the-art facilities central to the CBD and co-locating with government arts organisations offers enormous benefits to the broader arts community and our staff, audiences, and the creative sector.”
The project is supported by a $51 million investment from the State Government, which will go towards developing the new premises for State Theatre Company, Country Arts South Australia, and State Opera. This follows a $12 million investment by the ABC and the South Australian Film Corporation to boost local television production. This initiative has already set in motion the production of Austin’s season 3 in South Australia, expected to substantially benefit the local economy by creating jobs and engaging numerous local businesses and services.
Premier Peter Malinauskas said, “Our brand new Arts & Media Hub will serve as a catalyst for creativity, innovation, and collaboration in the Adelaide CBD. Franklin Street will become a portal for all South Australians to experience, participate and engage with the arts in a way they have never been able to before.”
Andrea Michaels, Minister for Arts, shared, “Arts, culture and creativity are incredibly important to South Australians and this new hub will deliver a state-of-the-art home for three of our state’s most loved cultural organisations alongside our national broadcaster.”
This project is a significant step towards Adelaide’s CBD becoming a hub of cultural and economic activity.
