ABOUT US

Located in the nation’s capital, we are the custodians of Ainslie and Gorman Arts Centres, heritage-listed arts facilities. Together these arts and cultural hubs form a multi-disciplinary arts precinct that is home to Canberra’s largest collective of artists.

Arts Capital Ltd. mobilises cultural, human and financial resources in the service of a strong and unique arts ecosystem.

Formerly Gorman House Arts Centre Inc. Arts Capital Ltd is a not-for-profit company and registered charity. With a decades-long history of artistic and cultural community engagement and tangible creative impact, our multi-faceted experience empowers us in navigating contemporary creative landscapes.  

Working with dedicated partners, we invest in courageous creatives — peoples, projects, programs and productions — that enable bold and transformative encounters to happen. 

Led by a board of skilled, independent professionals, Arts Capital has assembled a team with expertise in arts facilities stewardship, cultural programming, creative placemaking, event production, arts marketing, venue management and project administration.

The Ainslie and Gorman Arts Centres are owned by the ACT Government and located in Australia’s capital on Ngunnawal Country. 

Learn more about our team here.

Gorman Arts Centre

Gorman Arts Centre began as Canberra’s first community arts centre in 1981, in response to considerable growth in the community arts sector and an identified need for Canberra creatives to have a place to call home. Since 1981 Arts Capital has worked to build a thriving multi-disciplinary arts hub which balances heritage architecture and gardens with contemporary and cutting-edge performance and visual arts. With over 40 artist studios, Gorman houses violin makers, craftsmen, visual artists, writers, musicians, cartoonists, dance organisations, theatre companies and more.

Ainslie Arts Centre

In 2009, and with a strong track record for managing an arts centre, Arts Capital expanded to also take on the management of Ainslie Arts Centre, a music hub in Canberra’s inner city. Carrying on the legacy of education in one of Canberra’s first schools, now almost 100 years later, we are proud to see musical development, professional practice and performances continuing to flourish within this heritage-listed venue. But more than just music happens in this venue. With light-filled classrooms, Ainslie Arts Centre is perfect for a range of educational and professional requirements.

Heritage Venue Hire

From Canberra’s first arts-focussed co-working space to a 200-person capacity, light-filled Main Hall and everything in between. Arts Capital manages a range of hireable venues, across two arts centres, which suit performances, conferences, arts practices, rehearsals, meetings, training days, weddings and much more! We understand the unique needs of individual artists, emerging arts organisations, creative small business’ as well as larger organisations, and can tailor a single-day event or a long-term lease to suit your requirements. Join this multi-arts hub and be a part of Canberra’s creative history.

Emerging Artist Studio Program

Our Emerging Artist Studio Program is based at Gorman Arts Centre and offers subsidised studio spaces for artists in the first 5-years of their practice. Access to these spaces in a central location allows artists from all over Canberra to explore, experiment and develop creative works and ideas in a supportive and collaborative environment. We strongly encourage applications by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people from a culturally and linguistically diverse background, people with lived experience of disability, gender diverse peoples and members of the LGBTQIA+ community.