All the fun and colour of LIVE IN 25 – Creating Space for Everyone – Wollondilly Performing Arts Centre Launch Street Party and Community Arts Festival will come to Menangle Street in Picton on 15 November 2024, following the Wollondilly Shire Council successfully winning a NSW Government Open Streets program grant.
Responding to the cost-of-living crisis, LIVE IN 25 is FREE entry, bringing locals together for budget busting, family-friendly fun.
LIVE IN 25 is one of 130 regional and metro events funded by the Open Streets program which aims to activate local streets and public spaces, boost vibrancy and visitor numbers to local communities and businesses.
Applications for local councils opened earlier this year, with the program so popular that the original funding pool was increased from $4.7 million to $8.7 million. Funding amounts range from $7,000 to $150,000 and have been awarded to 51 regional councils and 22 metropolitan councils.
All 130 events will take place between now and January 2025.
Open Streets and the vibrancy agenda
Open Streets is part of the NSW Government’s Vibrant Streets Package, now a $19.7 million investment to inject vibrancy into our streets and local spaces.
This package is part of the NSW Government’s vibrancy and visitor economy agenda, which recognises that local communities and businesses know what works best in their towns and suburbs.
For more information on the Open Streets program visit Transport for NSW’s Open Streets webpage.
Minister for Roads, Arts, Music and the Night-Time Economy, Jobs and Tourism John Graham said:
“We’re excited to support LIVE IN 25 – Creating Space for Everyone – Wollondilly Performing Arts Centre Launch Street Party and Community Arts Festival.
“Too often our main streets are something we drive through, rather than drive to. Our streets are a critical part of our public and social infrastructure. Great streets make great towns and centres and reflect the local community and culture.
“The Open Streets program is about temporarily transforming our main streets into vibrant and welcoming public event spaces.
“The colour and diversity of these 130 events celebrates the unique personality of each town or suburb. This is what our vibrancy agenda is all about, backing locals to create events and entertainment that works for their local community.”
Government Spokesperson for Wollondilly, The Hon. Mark Buttigieg MLC said:
“LIVE IN 25 – Creating Space for Everyone – Wollondilly Performing Arts Centre Launch Street Party and Community Arts Festival excitingly comes with the opening of the Wollondilly Performing Arts Centre, and will involve a variety of performances, a lightshow, workshops, food stalls and markets.
“Congratulations to the Wollondilly Shire Council for being awarded this important NSW Government grant of $150,000 to make our local streets more vibrant and foster engagement with the community.”
Member for Wollondilly, Mrs Judy Hannan MP said:
"As Mayor I managed to fight for this amazing facility in Picton. I am so pleased to see the completion of the Performing Arts Centre, successfully awarded $17 million from a very competitive City Deal Liveability Fund.
"It’s great to see this extra funding of $150,000 to mark and celebrate the opening of the Performing Arts Centre.
"Regional communities like Wollondilly often miss out and I am grateful for the support from the community that led to this amazing project which can now host events like LIVE IN 25 for all residents."
Media: [email protected] or Benn Banasik 0434 832 636