Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre (BREC) has won Australian Performing Arts Centre of the Year in this year’s Drover Awards.
It’s like winning an academy award for a venue in Australia according to CircuitWest Executive Director Ryan Taaffe.
“The winner is voted for by industry peers based on providing outstanding services and exceptional success with audiences,” he said.
“APACA represents more than 120 venues Australia wide including the prestigious Arts Centre Melbourne and the Sydney Opera House.”
“This is an amazing feat by the BREC team. Bunbury won from venues delivering more than 53 000 events to 11 million attendees across Australia.”
“This will open the eyes of many performance producers nationally and overseas to the quality of venues and the size of live performance audiences in Western Australia, Mr Taaffe said.”
“This is another significant win for WA performing arts as we work to been seen amongst Australia’s best,” he said.
“The people who live in the City of Bunbury and the rest of South West WA should be proud of their local leadership in arts.”
BREC has been in operation for 26 years and has staged a dizzying range and number of performances from Opera Australia and Bell Shakespeare to Spare Parts Puppet Theatre and the YOH youth festival. Last year, there were nearly 70,000 visitors to BREC.
It also has a major role in arts education, community inclusion and supporting local artists in the South West.
Award presenter Performing Arts Connections (formerly APACA) believes BREC is a very worthy winner of the Drover Award.
“This team and arts centre provide a fine example of actively engaging audiences in enriching performing arts experiences. They are a role model and a national leader in a highly competitive field with limited resources. BREC’s achievements are something that the entire City of Bunbury can be extremely proud,” said PAC Executive Director Rick Heath.
“We are so proud! It’s a huge achievement, not only for the team at BREC but for the entire South West region, to be voted by the touring companies who tour to hundreds of venues across the country as the leading performing arts venue in Australia. We were up against some tough competition.” says Sharon Custers, BREC General Manager.
The BREC team have no time to rest on their laurels with Putting On The Ritz, YOH Fest, Justice Crew and Carnival of the Animals all performing in September.
Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre (BREC) is owned by the City of Bunbury and managed by Bunbury Regional Theatre Inc.
ENDS
Please contact Sam Lynch Circuitwest for more information (pm@circuitwest.com.au 0419971713).
CircuitWest exists to build an effective and inclusive network that connects members and stakeholders involved in the business of performing arts presenting.