The Noarlunga Theatre is now known as the Hopgood Theatre, the renaming occuring in recognitition of the contribution the Honourable Dr Don Hopgood, AO, and his late wife, Raelene, provided over the years to the southern Adelaide arts community.
Dr Hopgood served as a Member of State Parliament for 23 years from 1970, including seven years as Deputy Premier from 1985. He has also made a valuable contribution to the arts scene in the South. A keen musician Dr Hopgood has been an active member of the Onkaparinga Band and has made significant contributions to jazz music, not only as a talented trumpeter, but also through his considerable research into and documentation of the history of jazz in South Australia.
Dr Hopgood’s late wife Raelene played in both the Onkaparinga Band and the Jazz Bandits, mastering instruments including the piano and tenor saxophone. She was also served as the librarian and treasurer of the support group for the former Noarlunga City Concert Band, which was the first community group to make use of the Noarlunga Theatre.
The Hopgood Theatre’s Green Room has also been renamed the Olive Reader Green Room in recognition of the fantastic work of the late Olive Reader, who worked tirelessly for Southern Theatre and Arts Support (STARS), playing a vital role in the ongoing support of the theatre and the arts across the Southern Fleurieu Peninsula.
The recognition of these local arts identities are part of the revitalisation of the theatre which includes Country Arts SA been granted a ten-year lease to operate and promote the theatre for the benefit of the communities in the Southern Suburbs and Fleurieu Peninsula.
Under the management of Country Arts SA, the Hopgood Theatre will feature a mainstage program in 2009 including performances by companies such as the Australian String Quartet and the Melbourne Comedy Festival along with school holiday and Morning Melodies programs.
The theatre will still be available for the use of the local community.
For further information on activities and events at the Hopgood Theatre visit http://www.countryarts.org.au/catalogs/arts-centres/south-australia/hopgood-theatre-200389.php
The Fleurieu Peninsula Art Trail exposes the wealth of artistic endeavours to be found in theregion. There are numerous galleries exhibiting new work every few weeks, studios where artists can be seen pursuing their craft and workshops where emerging artists can follow their creative path.
This trail takes in 20 galleries and studios including those in McLaren Vale, Willunga and Aldinga.
For further information and to download an Arts Trail brochure visit http://www.southaustralia.com/FleurieuPeninsulaArtsTrail.aspx
The results of the recent Double Vision art exchange between artists from the City of Onkaparinga, the City of Mount Gambier and the District Council of Grant will be on display at the Port Noarlunga Arts Centre from November 1 - December 5.
Double Visision is a biennial visual arts skills exchange between artists from the City of Onkaparinga and other local government areas. The resulting exhibition is also one of the 2008 Fleurieu Biennale events.
For what was the fourth exchange, the Onkaparinga artists swapped places with the artists located from the Mount Gambier region. The resulting works, depicting landscapes from the City of Onkaparinga and the lower South East region include linoprint and pastels to sculpture and photography.
The exhibition will tour South Australia before being shown in Mount Gambier's Riddoch Art Gallery in March 2009.
The exhibition at the Port Noarlunga Arts Centre, Old Institute Building, Gawler Street, Port Noarlunga is open to the public from 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday and noon to 4pm on weekends.