For more than 20 years, the Bellarine Arts Centre – previously known as The Potato Shed – has been a place for expression, learning, and connection.

But the centre is now bursting at the seams. Its facilities are outdated, its footprint is too small, and there’s so much more it could offer our growing community.

We’re calling on Victorian election candidates to show their support and commit to investing $21.7 million in Stage 1 and $12.9 million in Stage 2 of the Bellarine Arts Centre redevelopment, if they are elected.

The upgrades would create a contemporary, inclusive regional arts facility, including:

• a new state-of-the-art theatre with soundproofing, control room and expanded backstage areas
• dedicated creative education spaces, including a music lab, dance studio and video editing suite
• revitalised front-of-house spaces for exhibitions, cabaret and dinner shows
• improved performer amenities, including separated dressing rooms and toilets
• an outdoor amphitheatre for summer performances and events
• hospitality and retail spaces
• a new public deck for circulation and outdoor events.

The project would also strengthen opportunities for local artists and creative businesses, support schools and education partners, and create new opportunities for First Nations storytelling and programming.

With projected visitation growth of 20 per cent per annum, the redevelopment would help the Bellarine Peninsula attract larger audiences, grow cultural tourism and build the region’s creative economy.

Murradoc Ward councillor Rowan Story

The Bellarine Arts Centre has been part of the fabric of our community for more than 20 years, but the region has changed significantly in that time.

The stage is set for the Bellarine’s next act. We now need investment to unlock the full potential of this much-loved facility.

Our local artists, performers, students and community groups need more space and better facilities. This redevelopment would give them that.

It would also give us a bigger and better place to put on shows, hold events and welcome visitors to the Bellarine. 

And importantly, it gives us more room to tell the stories of this place.

Bellarine Arts Centre manager Mikayla Frawley

There’s a huge amount of interest in performing, creating and putting on events. We have people with great ideas and groups ready to get involved, but our current facilities can only take us so far.

We’re often having to work around the limitations of the building – whether that’s finding enough room for rehearsals, accommodating different groups or trying to fit everything we need backstage.

A redevelopment would completely change what we can offer. We could welcome more schools, support more local performers and community groups, and put on bigger and more varied events

The demand is already here. We just need the space to meet it.

Find our 2026 Priority Projects on our Advocacy page.