The Northern Festival Centre is a fully equipped multi-purpose arts centre and can accommodate a diverse range of conferences, performing arts, film screenings, seminars and product launches. Within the Centre are the Keith Michell Theatre, The Ballroom and meeting rooms (Barbara Welch Room and Council Room).
Port Pirie proudly announces itself as ‘The City of Friendly People’. Located on the eastern shore of the Spencer Gulf, Port Pirie is South Australia’s second largest port. It is an industry based city, whose economy is driven by the huge silver, lead and zinc smelters which process the raw ore brought from Broken Hill, and the port which provides transportation for both the metal and rural industries surrounding the city.
In addition to being one of South Australia’s most important industrial and commercial centres, it has a rich and historical base, with a number of heritage listed buildings and monuments throughout the city. The region offers visitors a myriad of activities and attractions in a district steeped in history and culture.
Port Pirie is 229 km North of Adelaide and has a population of 13 500 and a theatre base of 20,000 (population within 100km).
Arts Centre Reference Group
Working with local community members to ensure the Arts Centre continues to meet the community’s arts and cultural expectations.
The Current members are:
Rhys Millington is the Special Events Coordinator for the Port Pirie Regional Council, and holds a bachelor of Sport and Recreation Management from the University of South Australia. Rhys joined the Port Pirie Regional Council in late 2010, and has been involved in a number of major events in the region, including the State Masters Games, New Years Eve celebrations, and the Global Maintenance Mining Conference and Trade Show, to name a few. His role is to coordinate a number of Council run events, direct State Masters Games events, and assist organisers of community events.
Elaine Gardner Chair of Visual and Performing Arts Association based in the Mid North, has worked in the arts for 30 years with community arts, as artist in residence, managing arts events, workshop leader, past board or panel member of Community Arts Network, Craft Council of SA, Artist in Schools, Youth Arts and current member of grants assessment panel of CASA. Past member of TARTS, and TAD. Current member CAN and Craft South. Holds Degree in Teaching.
Sandra Waite Community Officer, Port Pirie Regional Council. Sandra has a Dip in Management and has dedicated 23 years in Local Government within the cities of Playford, Salisbury, Charles Sturt & Town of Hindmarsh. In 2004 convened the LGAVMN working on a number of projects based on best practice for volunteer management. Sandra served on the board of VSA&NT for 4 years whilst working in Adelaide and contributed to their committees, projects and business to support and underpin the value of volunteering in communities on a national level.
Kirstie Jamieson Team Leader Cultural Development with Country Arts SA and Director of the Port Pirie Regional Art Gallery. Kirstie has a diverse background – studying art history and anthropology, working on exhibitions at the SA Museum, managing a small business and teaching yoga. Originally from Adelaide, she has spent the past nine years in regional South Australia working with community groups and individual artists throughout the Flinders Ranges and Mid North.
Debi Myles is the Business Development Officer for Regional Development Australia Yorke and Mid North, Southern Flinders. In this role she assists small to medium businesses with business advice and works with councils and communities to promote business, tourism and employment. Debi has had a diverse career, working for not for profit organisations, local government, the mining sector and has owned her own businesses . She has a Diploma of Management, is currently studying Project Management and is a qualified Trainer and Assessor.
