Council is exploring options for the future operations of the Roxy Community Theatre in Leeton NSW and, to this end, has put out a call for initial Expressions of Interest (EOI) from arts and cultural organisations interested to lease and operate the facility.
The opportunity aligns with Council's strategic goals of enhancing community engagement at the Roxy, driving economic activity, and nurturing a vibrant arts and cultural environment. It includes ensuring local community needs and expectations are met and the heritage value of this State heritage listed icon is preserved and respected.
Following an almost four-year major redevelopment of the Roxy Community Theatre, Stage 1 (the main auditorium) was completed in December 2024 and the final touches to Stage 2 will be be finalised in 2025 (subject to funding). This major redevelopment re-establishes the Roxy as a vital hub for cultural, community and commercial activity in Leeton and the wider region.
The net is now being cast to see if there are potential lessees interested to run the facility in a way that will deliver touring shows; local shows; conferences; movies; civic events; corporate functions; gaming events; and education and training opportunties under an agreed service level agreement with Council.
Council will make an annual contribution to the operations of the facility but it is expected that any respondents to the call for EOIs will need to have a strategy for making up the difference in operating costs.
Council's General Manager, Jackie Kruger, said this EOI call is the first in a two-step process.
"Our initial call is to establish if there are any organisations out there who see the Roxy opportunity as an attractive one to explore. If there are interested parties, their responses will be reviewed by the Roxy Redevelopment Committee and then a more detailed round two set of questions will be asked of preferred respondents before any final recommendations are made to Council," she said.
Mrs Kruger said that a successful operator will be expected to have a solid governance structure and deliver a sustainable business model that maximises the Roxy's multifunctional capabilities.
"While running a multifunctional facility offers a greater range of opportunity, it also presents complexity. Any potential operators will need to be flexible and agile in their management styles and have the drive and energy to explore how to optimise the potential of the various spaces," she added.
Council's Portfolio Lead for Arts and Culture and Deputy Mayor, Cr Michael Kidd, said he was hoping this EOI process would identify potential operators with the skills and experience to bring the Roxy to life, making it a vibrant centre for arts and culture in our community, while remaining finanicially viable.
"This is a unique opportunity to be part of Leeton's cultural renaissance. I encourage arts organisations with vision and a heart for rural Australia to seriously consider the opportunity. The national partnership opportunities in relation to arts and cultural education and training for rural NSW are a significant point of difference to running just another theatre," he said.
