Welcoming the Arts 1981 – 2009

Textured divide

In 1980 several arts and community organisations were on the lookout for a new space to operate, and a lobby group was formed and successfully pressed the Commonwealth Government for the use of Gorman House as their new home for the arts.

After some renovation works, Mrs Tammie Fraser officially reopened Gorman House as a Community Arts Centre in 1981. By the late 1980’s Gorman House had become a bubbling crucible of artistic and community talent, mainstream and experimental, open the public with the famous Gorman House Markets, with emerging artists selling their works, second-hand clothing stalls and musicians and performers taking over the courtyard stage.

A black and white photograph of two performers juggling and striking a pose.

Recollections

” In the 1980’s the Canberra gay group, the Meridian Club used the Gorman House hall as a disco on Friday nights. On Saturday nights they used the Fireplace Room for a venue. Eventually it was decided to move the venue from Gorman House to the University (A.N.U.). But at least those years at Gorman gave the gay community a chance to get their bearings and some time to plan for the future. So even though it was not my “scene” as such it was good to know there was something! I guess not many others will write of that period in Gorman! 

Excerpt from memory from Earl Evens 2002, who lived at Gorman House from October 1971 – March 1972 

Gallery

A black and white image of young dancers in a vinyl floored dance studio.

Young dancers at the Gorman House Open Day, 1983, silver gelatin print, photo by David Reid.

A young boy plays with paint and sculpture

A young boy plays with paint and sculpture at the Gorman House Open Day, 1983, silver gelatin print, photo by David Reid.

A parade of people carrying a sculpture covered in a sheet through the lawns of Gorman House.

A parade of sculpture in the Gorman Courtyard on the Gorman House Open Day, 1983, silver gelatin print, photo by David Reid.

A group of dancers from the 1980s sit in the towering hawthorn tree.

Human Veins Dance Theatre Company members sit in the courtyard hawthorn tree at Gorman House, 1988, photo by Ross Gould.

Three people stand on the steps on an old building underneath a striped green and white awning.

The staff of Gorman House Arts Centre outside B Block, 1990, colour print, photographer unknown.

An older woman works at a large weaving loom with white thread spools lining the sides.

Renowned Weaver Faye Skyring at her loom in her Gorman studio, circa 1990, colour negative, photo by Dean Golja.

A woman in a red dress, painter Julie Bradley sits at her studio easel next to the window.

Painter Julie Bradley in her Gorman studio, circa 1990, colour negative, photo by Dean Golja.

Two large paper mâché puppets are crudely painted in blue and red.

Splinters Theatre Show featuring large paper mâché costumes and puppets 1990, colour print, photographer unknown.

A silhouetted tree lit by firelight with burning stage sets and a figure hanging from a tree.

Splinters Theatre show in the Gorman Courtyard featured burning props and large puppets, 1995, colour print, photographer unknown.

A motley crew of young people wearing animal hats at Gorman

A motley crew of young people wearing animal hats at Gorman, circa 1990, silver gelatin print, photo by Richard Briggs

Diptych black and white images of people on stage, speaking into microphone during their poetry readings.

Second Stage' spoken word poetry event, 1995, 35mm, photographer unknown.

A woman dances on the roof in a long tulle tutu and sings into a microphone.

Dancing and cabaret on the Gorman roof, 1995, photo by Ross Gould.

Three dancing figures in wide white hoop skirts dance on the red brick roofs of Gorman House.

Dancers on the roof of Gorman Arts Centre, 1995, colour print, donated anonymously.

A girl with short cropped hair struts the runway in a tight green and pink shirt in the grounds of Gorman House.

Youth fashion on display at Gorman House, 1997, colour neg, donated anonymously.

A faded film photograph of fashion show performers in

The models of a youth fashion show gather at the Gorman House markets for a performance, 1997, colour negative, photo by Phoebe Porter.

Excerpt of a print poster by ACME Ink for the promotion of Gorman House.

Arts Organisations

Individual artists as well as arts organisations took up residence at Gorman House, including print studio ACME Ink, established by Julia Church, Mark Denton, and Mandy Martin in 1982. Artists produced their own screenprints (often posters) as well as some printing for clients until 1987.

Other notable past residents include: