Regional NSW arts organisation NORPA (Northern Rivers Performing Arts) is excited to share its innovative vision for a new home, housed in the historic Hampton & Larsson timber factory in the centre of Lismore and referred to as The Joinery.
NORPA has been adrift since the devastating floods of 2022 caused extensive damage to the organisation’s previous base at Lismore City Hall. These unprecedented floods didn’t just destroy buildings, they threatened to wash away stories, shared experiences and the region’s very identity.
Aimed at creating a new cultural hub for the performing arts in the region, the groundbreaking initiative transforms a historic 3000 square metre Lismore timber factory into a flood-resilient, world-class arts incubator, setting a powerful precedent for how the arts can drive community renewal in the face of climate disasters.
In collaboration with award-winning Sydney based architects CHROFI, The Joinery’s trailblazing design is adaptive, inspiring, flexible and resilient. The design includes the use of robust and hard-wearing materials that can withstand inundation, elements to allow the free passage of floodwaters and debris to reduce damage as well as maximising the building’s capacity to dry out quickly.
The Joinery embodies NORPA’s trademark ability to adapt unique locations into performance spaces, while providing the company with a much-needed permanent home. Once completed, the building’s design offers professional space for artists to rehearse and create work for regional and national presentation. Large versatile contemporary spaces support a range of activities, from live performances to workshops and programs that reflect the Northern Rivers’ unique stories and creative vibrancy.
NORPA’s 2024 work, My Cousin Frank will be taking local stories to a national stage at next month’s Adelaide Festival. NORPA’s sell out productions include Love for One Night at the Eltham Hotel, Flow in Lismore and Maclean, and Wildskin in Lismore.
NORPA is currently seeking to raise $600,000 to purchase the Hampton & Larsson site. Every dollar raised will contribute to transforming this historic site into a beacon of creative innovation and recovery.
Image: Kurt Petersen
