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To the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly,

Marian St Theatre has been closed for 13 years.

Meanwhile, the owner, Ku-ring-gai Council, has continued to invest heavily in sporting infrastructure, supporting 44 sports fields, 67 tennis courts, two golf courses, and more. But for the arts? Only one small visual art centre.

This imbalance matters.

The arts are not a niche interest. More Australians attend live performances than all of our major sporting codes combined. In Ku-ring-gai, more than 60,000 residents actively participate in the arts, and the area’s population is expected to grow by 27% over the next 15 years.

NSW’s Creative Communities Policy identifies a critical need for more arts spaces like Marian St Theatre. Overwhelming evidence shows the arts strengthen community identity, support education and contribute to a thriving economy.

The approved design to reopen Marian St as a vibrant Arts Centre includes four purpose-built performance spaces for music, dance, theatre, exhibitions and community events. Yet the project remains on hold, ranked as the Council’s lowest funding priority, behind another sports facility, costing over $30 million.

We ask the Legislative Assembly to call on the Government to work with Ku-ring-gai Council to commit to a clear plan to open Marian St Arts Centre within three years as essential cultural infrastructure.

August 2026