The first of July marks a new beginning in entertainment, conferences, education and the visual arts for the Hastings with the doors of the Glasshouse Arts, Conference and Entertainment Centre open to the public.

Glasshouse operations staff and the Box Office, as well as the Visitor Information Centre are now on location in the Clarence Street building. Council construction teams have also completed footpath works on Clarence Street.

Council General Manager Andrew Roach says members of the public are invited to come to the Glasshouse and explore the community facility.

“Obviously there is a huge level of expectation and curiosity among the community and it’s a major milestone to be able to open the doors.

“Our staff have worked incredibly hard in the last month since Council took possession of the building to ensure that we met the deadline of having the gallery exhibitions hung and the theatre program ready.

“The building is still in warm up phase and there is work to be done on the forecourt, café and bar areas throughout July and August, but finally the community can experience some of what the Glasshouse will deliver,” said Mr Roach.

Exhibitions presented across three floors of the Regional Gallery have been hung in recent days and are available for viewing. The first theatre performances commence on Friday night with The Taming Of The Shrew at 8pm.

The Visitor Information Centre has also been relocated from Gordon Street to the downstairs foyer of the building, which also incorporates the Regional Gallery Shop and Glasshouse Box Office.

Glasshouse staff are running guided tours of the facility throughout July and August to give interested residents a behind the scenes experience. These free one-hour tours are running every day. Bookings must be made at the Box Office.