Fostering Community, Faith and Excellence in Arts at St Patrick’s College, Ballarat

June 26, 2024

A long-held dream to have a dedicated space fostering community, faith and excellence in the arts has been realised at St Patrick’s College Ballarat in regional Victoria.

The College officially opened its state-of-the-art Performing Arts Centre on Monday 29 April 2024, heralding a vibrant new chapter of education at the College.

The $20 million facility was brought to fruition with the financial support of CDF. A partnership between St Patrick’s College and CDF that is rooted in shared values and a vision for holistic education.

St Patrick’s College Business Manager, Andrew Jirik said the new Performing Arts Centre, which features an 800-seat auditorium with cutting-edge theatre and AV technologies, Black Box Theatre, Ensemble, Percussion and Band Rooms, and five individual tuition studios, represented the single biggest investment in the arts in the College’s history.

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“The opening of our new Performing Arts Centre marks a transformational moment in our school's journey, and we are profoundly grateful to the Catholic Development Fund for their responsive support. This Centre will serve as a hub for creativity, innovation, and community engagement for generations to come,"

"The partnership between our school and the Catholic Development Fund gives witness to the CDF’s purpose to maximise the use of resources within the Catholic community to provide the means of promoting the pastoral and educational needs of the Diocese”.

Andrew Jirik, St Patrick's College Ballarat Business Manager

The St Patrick’s College community has wasted no time embracing the new space, presenting its first major production of School of Rock The Musical in May.

Head of Drama Monique Allen said the impact of having a dedicated space to perform was profound.

“It is inspiring to step into a space as magnificent as our new Performing Arts Centre and the incredible sense of belonging that our cast and crew have fostered is an important outcome of having their own space within the College that is dedicated to their craft,” she said.

“I feel so lucky to be able to teach and direct shows in this facility and I see firsthand the very real connection it draws between our students and their place in the traditions of St Patrick’s College.”

“St Pat’s is really excited about our new Performing Arts Centre and the incredible opportunities this facility

will provide our students for generations to come”

Steven O'Connor, St Patrick's College Ballarat Principal

Principal Steven O’Connor said the College was committed to providing students with the best possible opportunities to reach their potential academically, spiritually, and socially.

The need for a multi-purpose Performing Arts Centre at the College was first identified in late 2018 as part of a comprehensive Master Planning process. Construction began in early 2022 and was completed in December 2023.

Several Old Collegians contributed to the design and construction of the facility, as well as the delivery of the project, bringing a real sense of community to the development.

It is hoped the Performing Arts Centre will be a sanctuary of creativity and inspiration, where talents flourish, voices resonate, and hearts are uplifted for future generations.

The performing arts centre fronted by an inspiring art piece depicting Catholic missionary and educationalist Edmund Ignatius Rice, and his friend Mary Power, has also recently received a commendation at the 2024 Victorian Architecture Awards.

To help CDF continue to meet strong loan demand from the Catholic community, you too can put your faith in action and save for a greater reward than money alone. Not only will you earn a competitive rate of interest, but your savings will assist schools like St Patrick's College and other Catholic organisations to continue the work the Gospel calls on them to do.

Learn more and apply today.

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