Farewelling 40 years of history as a new chapter begins

As Metro Arts prepares to relocate to a new home in Brisbane’s West End, the organisation is throwing a festival to say goodbye to the building it’s long called home.

Moving house is said to be one of the most stressful life events one can experience, comparable to going through a divorce or experiencing the death of a loved one. While such claims don’t hold water, according to the BBC, it’s certainly true that it can be hard to say farewell to a place you know intimately, where every room reawakens an old, familiar memory.

A heritage-listed warehouse in the heart of Brisbane built in 1890 and later transformed into government offices, Metro Arts has operated as an arts centre for 40 years. Soon, Metro Arts will relocate to a fit for purpose new home in Brisbane’s West End, but before the lights are switched off for the last time, the organisation is throwing a party to celebrate the Edward Street building’s four decades as a hub for creative practice; a festival called Metro Arts – With Love.

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Richard Watts is ArtsHub's National Performing Arts Editor; he also presents the weekly program SmartArts on Three Triple R FM, and serves as the Chair of La Mama Theatre's volunteer Committee of Management. Richard is a life member of the Melbourne Queer Film Festival, and was awarded the status of Melbourne Fringe Living Legend in 2017. In 2020 he was awarded the Sidney Myer Performing Arts Awards' Facilitator's Prize. Most recently, Richard was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Green Room Awards Association in June 2021. Follow him on Twitter: @richardthewatts