The president of Geelong’s longest-running amateur theatre company has called on Mayor Stretch Kontelj to invest in grass roots arts organisations.
In a statement provided to the Indepdent, The Geelong Society of Operatic and Dramatic Arts (GSODA) president Jo Manderson responded to the mayor’s column in last week’s Geelong Independent titled ‘Arts and culture a priority’.
Mayor Kontelj’s column focused on the need to invest in the Geelong Gallery, the expansion of which was the “one piece of the puzzle remain(ing) for our cultural precinct to reach its full potential”.
While praising the council’s “bold and visionary projects that have reimagined Geelong’s arts and culture precinct”, Ms Manderson emphasised the “essential role” of community theatre and grassroots arts projects.
“While these larger-scale institutions and initiatives undeniably have their place, it is crucial to remember that community theatre plays an equally vital role in shaping our local culture,” she said.
“It is in these spaces where raw talent, diverse voices, and new ideas emerge—often against the odds.
“Yes, expanding the Geelong Gallery and attracting international exhibitions is exciting, but what about the next Guy Pearce or Sophia Katos that might come from a local theatre program?
“If we truly want to be an internationally recognized arts and culture hub, we must invest in
all forms of artistic expression—not just the high-profile, marketable projects, but the intimate, community-driven ones as well.”
GSODA, a multi-award-winning not-for-profit company, lost its permanent home in 2022, and a commissioned infrastructure feasibility study last year identified a new, permanent, council-funded home as “essential” for the organisation’s long-term sustainability.
Ms Manderson pointed out that while both sport and arts were important to communities and young people, the funding disparities were stark.
“GSODA, (is)nearly 100 years old and (has) the longest running youth theatre section in Australia, GSODA Junior Players, that is celebrating the amazing milestone of 60 years in operation this year… and yet we face the predicament of having no permanent home,” she said.
“To put the plight of GSODA into another light – if it was in fact a footy club with this much history, it would never find itself homeless or without strong council focus to keep them alive and flourishing!”
STATEMENT
As much as I admire the bold and visionary projects that have reimagined Geelong’s arts and cultural precinct, there is an aspect of this transformation that is too often overlooked: the essential role of community theatre and smaller, grassroots arts initiatives.
The redevelopment of the Geelong Library and Heritage Centre, the Geelong Arts Centre, and even the proposed expansion of the Geelong Gallery are all commendable, yet they highlight a glaring omission in the way we fund and prioritize the arts in our city.
While these larger-scale institutions and initiatives undeniably have their place, it is crucial to remember that community theatre plays an equally vital role in shaping our local culture. It is in these spaces where raw talent, diverse voices, and new ideas emerge—often against the odds.
Despite a mention of Back to Back Theatre and Platform Arts, there are other community theatre groups across Geelong, including GSODA (Geelong Society of Operatic and Dramatic Arts), continuing to struggle with inadequate funding, lack of adequate storage and performance space, and the constant pressure to compete for attention in an arts landscape dominated by grand projects or State government revenue targets that push costs on to everyday families and render paying for increasing ticketing pricing prohibitive.
There’s a paradox here. We talk about attracting creatives to our city, and we celebrate the influx of young artists drawn by the vibrancy of Geelong’s cultural scene. But in reality, it is the community theatres, the local performance spaces, and the artists who work on shoestring budgets that bring much of that vibrancy to life. Without support for these grassroots organizations, we risk losing the very diversity and creativity that makes our city special.
The issue is not just about the monetary value these spaces generate (although that is certainly important). It’s about the human element—the artists, technicians, writers, and performers who work tirelessly to create opportunities for local expression.
These are the people who engage with the community, who create intimate, thought-provoking experiences, and who inspire the next generation of performers and artists, many of them young. But too often, they are ignored in favour of projects that promise large-scale economic returns.
That said, GSODA has bought over 35, 000 patrons to Geelong from all over Australia to see their shows in 2016-2023, even amidst the lockdowns, renovations of the Geelong Arts Centre and homelessness, this small not-for-profit community organisation brings significant economic benefit to the local economy while running on limited funds and without a permanent home.
Yes, expanding the Geelong Gallery and attracting international exhibitions is exciting, but what about the next Guy Pearce or Sophia Katos that might come from a local theatre program? What about the countless young creatives who need space to experiment, perform, and develop their craft? We can’t forget about them.
If we truly want to be an internationally recognized arts and culture hub, we must invest in all forms of artistic expression—not just the high-profile, marketable projects, but the intimate, community-driven ones as well.
I am the proud President of GSODA, being nearly 100 years old and having the longest running youth theatre section in Australia, GSODA Junior Players, that is celebrating the amazing milestone of 60 years in operation this year… and yet we face the predicament of having no permanent home.
Musical theatre and performing arts are vital to the enrichment of any community but importantly in providing the platform for young people to practice, learn, create, express, produce and perform; this is their sport.
And as we all know sport provides active recreation to keep them fit and healthy, and performing arts, classified as ‘active recreation’ as a ‘sport’ under many grants and funding programs – is loved by so many to watch, experience and enjoy.
It would be remiss of our greater Community to overlook the importance of alternate active recreation options for the citizens of Greater Geelong and not restrict it to common, more popular or populated ‘sports’. To put the plight of GSODA into another light – if it was in fact a footy club with this much history, it would never find itself homeless or without strong council focus to keep them alive and flourishing!
For many of the young people involved, the opportunity to be part of GSODA is the first time that they have found a strong sense of belonging within a peer group, in the same way that sporty teenagers might find at their sports club. This sense of connection and of feeling valued for their skills and passion is central to building individual resilience and wellbeing.
By 2041, there will be over 100,000 young people living in Greater Geelong. The city has ambitions to be a thriving cultural centre, and creating welcoming, safe and joyful pathways for young people to experience the arts will be essential. Strong evidence underscores the positive impact of arts engagement on mental well-being.
In 2021, mental health was the most common long-term health condition in Greater Geelong, with 11% of the population reporting a mental health problem. Growing mental health issues in young people highlights the importance of providing places for them to feel a sense of belonging through shared interests, friendship and community.
“Many of the young people that GSODA attracts are discovering who they are, seeking new friends and finding a place for their passion. To see GSODA unable to offer their full potential to our community because of their unsustainable circumstances would be a great shame” – Guy Pearce, GSODA Alumni, 1980-84
“As teenagers involved in the arts, we often feel like sporting groups are much more celebrated and have amazing facilities” – Zoe Walter and Friends (on behalf of GSODA, July 2022 CoGG Council Meeting)
It’s time to stop pitting different parts of the arts world against one another. As Geelong continues to grow into a cultural powerhouse, let’s ensure that all forms of art, especially community theatre, receive the funding and support they deserve. A thriving cultural hub isn’t built on the backs of the few, but on the collective contributions of all creative sectors—large and small.
The future of Geelong’s arts scene should be inclusive, vibrant, and reflective of every voice in our community. This is our chance to show that our great city values every artist.
Jo Manderson, GSODA president
