About Monash University Academy of Performing Arts

The Vice Chancellor has expressed to me on a number of occasions his vision of Monash as a cultural hub for the South East Corridor, and a centre of creative ideas, often invoking the Bauhaus as a model. This is a great way to see Monash at a time when it seems that many other universities are cutting back particularly in the creative areas. I think the zones of higher education that attract high level thinkers and practitioners in the performance and visual arts areas are real powerhouses of contemporary thought, and as a major 'shop window' of musical and theatrical activity on our various campuses, the Academy is in poll position to make the most of the potential of this vision.

Of course, the daily operations of our theatres and halls, which define our relationships to our community and stakeholders, are an essential part of the way Monash connects with the world around us, and that will hopefully ever be the case. I intend to continue to build on attracting national and international artists and companies to be part of the Academy's program of events in addition to the important work we are doing with the School of Music and the Centre for Theatre and Performance. Some of these things will take time; the theaters and the Robert Blackwood Hall all need attention in terms of the conditions of the buildings and equipment, so there is much to do. But I think that the bigger the vision, the more likely it is to bear fruit, and it is this process that I intend to see through. I am delighted to be working with the Academy team, and look forward to everyone contributing to its bright future.

Professor Paul Grabowsky
Executive Director
Monash University Academy of Performing Arts