Exciting News for Sunbury! Sunbury has a brand-new arts and cultural precinct on Jacksons Hill — ArtRise!

Back in October, I was thrilled to welcome my wonderful friend the Hon. Sonya Kilkenny, Attorney-General and Minister for Planning, alongside Mayor Cr Jarrod Bell, our Councillors, staff, and the amazing Sunbury community for the official opening of this incredible new space.

ArtRise delivers on the Labor Government’s commitment to return and transform parts of the historic Jacksons Hill site into a vibrant hub for community creativity and connection.

After years of advocacy, we secured the site in the 2018/19 State Budget, paving the way for this exciting transformation via the master plan:

What is there at ArtRise:

• A multipurpose theatre and performance space
•  A front-of-house annex for the theatre

Gallery space for exhibitions

• Maker’s space for woodworking and applied arts
• Communal areas for cultural gatherings and co-working
• New flooring, lighting, and audio-visual equipment
• Accessible entrances and pathways throughout the precinct

Final touches are now finished across both buildings, with ArtRise open to the public, we celebrated with a special community open day

A huge thank you to everyone who contributed — from joining community workshops, sharing feedback, and serving on the Community Advisory Board, to helping choose the perfect name:

ArtRise – Gather, Connect and Create on the Hill.

I made a commitment to fight for this site and deliver a masterplan that would help up return Jacksons Hill to our growing community.

There is more work to go and more to deliver and I’ll have more to say on that soon- but this is an outstanding outcome only made possible thanks to your support.

Together we’re breathing new life into one of Sunbury’s most iconic landmarks.