A new era begins at Gasworks

Nestled on four hectares of leafy parklands, South Melbourne arts institution Gasworks, which marks its 40th year in 2026, has always offered a unique cultural proposition to Melbourne and Australia more broadly. A place that wears many hats, including two each of theatres and galleries as well as studio spaces, it’s very much for artists of all stripes.

Which is why new Creative Director and CEO Sam Strong is such a perfect fit. A man also accustomed to wearing many hats, his multi-hyphenated career has included chipping at the policy coalface with Creative Victoria and transformative stints as the head of Queensland Theatre and Griffin Theatre Company.