Hamer Hall gets a facelift

Melbourne's Hamer Hall is reopening in July after a $135.8 million two-year revamp, and a four-day mini arts festival has been planned to mark the improvements, announced Minister for Major Projects Dr Denis Napthine.
An impressive range of local and international acts will perform at the re-opening party concerts on Thursday 26 and Friday 27 July, including K.D. Lang, Rachelle Durkin, Caroline, O'Connor, Eddie Perfect, Archie Roach, Lior, orchestral musicians and opera singers.
Extensive renovations have taken place with "improved acoustics, new seating and cutting edge staging systems and technology in the auditorium, new and expanded foyer areas, as well as exciting new connections to the city and the river bank," Dr Napthine said.
High demand for tickets to the opening event is anticipated, so half of the tickets will go on sale as normal, whereas the other half will be free through a public ballot. From 9.00 am Saturday 9 June until 5.00 pm 22 June, anyone over the age of 18 will be able to register either online, by phone or in person at the box office for two free tickets. The winners will be notified on 29 June.
Even those who are not able to secure tickets will be able to attend a planned 'open-house' on the weekend after the grand re-opening. This will include a 15 metre high art installation, roving performers, guided tours of the hall, curated exhibitions honouring Kylie Minogue and Barry Humphries, live music and a dance-off by 200 local dancers.
Dr Napthine said: "'The redevelopment is expected to increase Arts Centre Melbourne patronage by an additional 600,000 visitors per year … I invite all Victorians to come along and enjoy the revitalised Hamer Hall and celebrate Melbourne's love affair with the arts'.
For more details visit www.artscentremelbourne.com.au.