Forget the kitchen pots and pans, bring the kids to make some noise at our place!

Join Steve in a hands-on, musical experience where there are buckets of percussion instruments and a whole heap of energy to create The Big Samba.

Presented by Latrobe City Libraries

Be a part of this special portrait project during the school holidays!

Wednesday 20 April | 10AM – 3PM | Outdoors 

Look this way.  Look natural.  Smile. With our ever-growing desire to document each moment of our lives, children often become the reluctant subject of their parent’s camera. 

I See You Like This turns the camera around, allowing your child to view you as the subject through the lens of their own imagination in this creative all day workshop!

Portraits will be developed as paste-ups to be exhibited on the exterior of the old Latrobe Performing Arts Centre building!



Suitable for 6 – 12 year olds with one adult partner.

FREE program no bookings required

Never fear, Super Jenny is here these school holidays!

Thursday 21 April | 10.30am & 1.30pm | Outdoors

Jenny likes to swim with mermaids and fly to other worlds, her best friend is Ned and she loves her nanny, but when someone needs help she becomes Super Jenny.

Jenny helps her friends and family all the time, her Nanny says this makes her Super Jenny. But sometimes even super heroes need help. This pre-school children’s entertainment is engaging, fun and educational, incorporating fine and gross motor skills, Auslan sign language, singing, dancing and musical terms. Super Jenny LIVE explores sustainability, mindfulness, coastal care and encourages creativity, imaginative play and cognitive learning that goes hand in hand to enhance all children’s physical and intellectual development.

FREE Program - No bookings required 

‘Monk has achieved a show that is entertaining, educational and also simply fun – which in my opinion brings it close to super’

– Witness Performance 4 Stars

“I for one look forward to learning new Auslan signs and hearing stories from Super Jenny!’s Nanna in coming episodes. Job well done Jennifer Monk and La Mama for Kids.”

– Artshub

Created and Performed by Jennifer Monk

Music and Lyrics by Natalie Jeffreys

Production and Costume designer by Oliver Ross

Image by Abigail Wilson at BeScene

A moving short film about Gippsland community members with culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

Wednesday 23 March | 6PM | GPAC Theatre

Renowned Arts Director Catherine Simmonds OAM presents ‘Greener Pastures’, a moving short film that captures the lived experience of Gippsland community members with culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Migrants and refugees who attend multicultural friendship groups in Wonthaggi and Warragul courageously share their stories of settlement in Gippsland. The film touches on issues such as migration, refugees, isolation, courage, resilience, hope, generosity and community.

The screening will be followed by a panel discussion led by the director with light refreshments served in the foyer after the event. Come along to view this beautiful short film.

Latrobe Community Health Service has partnered with StoryIsConnection to produce Greener Pastures using Victorian State Government funding.

We’ve whipped up a cocktail of groove-filled bands, DJs, food, local brews and a perfect setting to make magic happen.

Friday 25 March | 5PM - 9PM | Outdoors

Get ready for twilight hangs, great music and good vibes in your new outdoor space. Teaming up with not-for-profit label Music in Exile, we're featuring headline artists from culturally diverse communities alongside local acts.

Plus, enjoy local brews from Good Land Brewing Co. and moreish nibbles. We're here for it.

AUSECUMA BEATS

Ausecuma Beats are more than just a band, they are a philosophy. Led by their fearless bandleader and master djembe player, Boubacar Gaye, the nine-strong ensemble demonstrate what can happen when a group of artists come together based on an idea – in this case, the idea of place, of transplanting cultural heritage into a contemporary city. Ausecuma Beats are a representation of what is possible when inclusion and diversity are celebrated. Musically, each individual artist brings their own unique sound. However, when these musicians join together they create a powerhouse full of energy, grooves and joy. It is the way these incredible musicians join together that makes the group truly impressive.

GORDON KOANG

Gordon Koang Duoth is a Neur speaker and musician hailing from the Upper Nile region of what is now South Sudan. Accompanied by his cousin Paul Biel, Gordon performs a blend of traditional Neur rhythms and original compositions in English, Arabic, and his native language, Neur.

FRIDAY HANG DATES

• Friday 11 March | Ajak Kwai + Allysha Joy
• Friday 18 March | Chikchika + Camille
• Friday 25 March | Ausecuma Beats + Gordon Koang

Find Out More

Presented in partnership with Music in Exile. Music in Exile is a not-for-profit championing Australian artists from refugee, migrant and diaspora backgrounds.

We’ve whipped up a cocktail of groove-filled bands, DJs, food, local brews and a perfect setting to make magic happen.

Friday 18 March | 5PM - 9PM | Outdoors

Get ready for twilight hangs, great music and good vibes in your new outdoor space. Teaming up with not-for-profit label Music in Exile, we're featuring headline artists from culturally diverse communities alongside local acts.

Plus, enjoy local brews from Good Land Brewing Co. and moreish nibbles. We're here for it.

CHIKCHIKA

Chikchika began as a fun collaboration between Music Yared and Mulu Baqqalaa, and has grown to a powerful project in its own right. Mulu, a legend in Ethiopia, where she has been actively performing and recording music for over ten years, is joined by Anbessa Gebrehiwot and Haftu Reda, two Tigrinya vocalists and masters of their traditional Eritrean and Ethiopian stringed instruments, the krar and masinko. The trio is accompanied by multi-instrumentalist Dale Gorfinkel and Tawanda Gadzikwa on drums to create an innovative new sound that pays homage to the traditions of East Africa.

CAMILLE EL FEGHALI

Camille el Feghali is a master of the Qanoun (a middle eastern zither) and the Nay (a middle eastern flute). He also harbours a healthy interest in electronic and experimental music, and is interested in different ways to use traditional instrumentation in these contexts. We eagerly await the results of his new collaboration with Melbourne based experimental pop musicians, Zak Olsen, better known for his work with contemporary rock bands ORB and Traffik Island.

FRIDAY HANG DATES

• Friday 11 March | Ajak Kwai + Allysha Joy
• Friday 18 March | Chikchika + Camille
• Friday 25 March | Ausecuma Beats + Gordon Koang

See All Events

Presented in partnership with Music in Exile. Music in Exile is a not-for-profit championing Australian artists from refugee, migrant and diaspora backgrounds.   

We’ve whipped up a cocktail of groove-filled bands, DJs, food, local brews and a perfect setting to make magic happen.  

Friday 11 March | 5PM - 9PM | Outdoors

Get ready for twilight hangs, great music and good vibes in your new outdoor space. Teaming up with not-for-profit label Music in Exile, we're featuring headline artists from culturally diverse communities alongside local acts.

Plus, enjoy local brews from Good Land Brewing Co. and moreish nibbles. We're here for it.

AJAK KWAI 

This summer, renowned South Sudanese/Australian vocalist Ajak Kwai is taking her full band on tour across regional Victoria and beyond in support of 2021’s outstanding EP, Red Sands.  

Red Sands is sonically akin to the groove-orientated, politically powerful afrobeat and funk sounds coming out of South and West African nations in the 1970s, sitting somewhere between the infectious pop of the Lijadu Sisters and a more modern desert blues sound of groups like Tinariwen and Mdou Moctar.

ALLYSHA JOY 

Well versed in poetry and performance, Allysha Joy’s potent lyricism, unique musicianship and killer vocals have garnered legions of attentive fans the world over. She’s an integral member of the Melbourne soul jazz scene, known as part of the acclaimed 30/70 Collective and for her own equally revered solo work.

FRIDAY HANG DATES

• Friday 11 March | Ajak Kwai + Allysha Joy
• Friday 18 March | Chikchika + Camille
• Friday 25 March | Ausecuma Beats + Gordon Koang

Find Out More

Presented in partnership with Music in Exile. Music in Exile is a not-for-profit championing Australian artists from refugee, migrant and diaspora backgrounds.   

Be a 10 Minute Dance Party DJ at Gippsland Performing Arts Centre's OPEN Festival! 

Tuesday 1 March | 6PM | Latrobe Regional Gallery

Join the mastermind of 10 Minute Dance Parties, JOF, to learn how to DJ at this FREE workshop at Latrobe Regional Gallery and then show off your new skills at the Big Family Weekender on Saturday 5 or Sunday 6 March as part of GPAC's OPEN festival. This is just for 11 – 19 year olds! 

You'll learn: 

• DJ skills
• Tech operation 
• Curating playlists for dance parties
• Generating activities and choreography for dance parties
• Real life performance skills at the Big Family Weekender on Saturday 5 or Sunday 6 March

This workshop and performance opportunity is open to anyone aged 11 - 19 years old. Get in quick, this workshop has a maximum of 20 participants.

Get ready to be a party starter!

Grab your mates for twilight hangs.

Friday 4 - Saturday 5 March | 5PM - 9PM | Outdoors

Get ready for it, Up Late is on again TONIGHT from 5PM – 9PM! 

Join us for an undercover boogie to live music that’s perfect for Saturday wet weather hangs with your mates. 

We’re setting the scene outdoors with top home-grown music acts alongside the Hot Glue Buns and JOF’s 10-Minute Dance Parties (the grown-up version – see The Big Family Weekender for more info).

SATURDAY

• 5PM - 6PM | DJ Golden Fleece
• 6PM - 6:45PM | Timothy Wolf
• 6:45PM - 7:15PM | DJ Golden Fleece
• 7:15PM - 7:30PM | Hot Glue Buns
• 7:30PM - 8:15PM | Timothy Wolf and The Howlers
• 8:15PM - 9PM | DJ Golden Fleece

FOOD & BAR

• 5PM - 9PM | Good Land Brewing Co. Bar
• 5PM - 9PM | Gippsland Baked Potatoes
• 5PM - 9PM | Coffee & Hot Jam Donuts

TIMOTHY WOLF AND THE HOWLERS

Introspective soulful blues with a hint of 'I'm ready to boogie', Timothy Wolf is the thrilling new kid on the block with his debut studio album set for release Oct 2022. The local alt folk/country songwriter is going from strength to strength, landing raving Rolling Stone and Triple J reviews and festival and support slots for the likes of the Pierce Brothers. Get on board early, dust off your dancing shoes and introduce yourself to the immersive and boisterous mischief that is Timothy Wolf.

DJ GOLDEN FLEECE

Hailing all the way from Meeniyan, Golden Fleece has lit up dance floors from Melbourne to London.

HOT GLUE BUNS

Hot Glue Buns (Kady Mansour and Michaela Tancheff) are a feminist duo who work to increase the accessibility of dance to the public. Their works have featured at Strawberry Fields Festival and Meredith Music Festival, alongside CC:DISCO! and Gordon Koang. In 2021 Hot Glue Buns developed ‘Hot Glueshops’ as part of Moreland Festivals Development Program. 

A weekend full of FREE fun-times is happening.

Saturday 5 - Sunday 6 March | 10AM - 3PM | Outdoors

Get ready for fun! The Big Family Weekender is ON with a mix of undercover and indoor activities and GPAC tours perfect for wet weather entertainment for the whole family!

You don’t need a ticket for this FREE public event – simply wrangle the family and head our way. Now is the time to shake your sillies out!

We’re here for it.

Questions? Call our friendly Box Office Team on 03 5176 3333 from 10AM – 4PM Daily.

SUNDAY

UNDERCOVER STAGE

• 10AM | Morwell Citizens Band
• 10:45AM | JOF 10 Minute Dance Parties DJ Set
• 11:15AM | DJ Mz Rizk & Thando
• 12:15PM | JOF 10 Minute Dance Parties DJ Set
• 12:30AM | Ricky Harrison & Friends
• 1:15PM | JOF 10 Minute Dance Parties DJ Set
• 2:15PM | Mollimor

VENUE TOURS | GPAC FOYER

• 10AM | Venue Tour
• 11AM | Venue Tour
• 1PM | Venue Tour
• 2PM | Venue Tour

ALL DAY | GPAC FOYER

• All Day | Bed Sheet Ghost Party
• All Day | Face Paint By Children 

FOOD & DRINKS

• Wheelie Good Pizzas
• Coffee & Hot Jam Donuts

BED SHEET GHOST PARTY

This is your chance as a real live human to experience the other side and become a ghost! WWHhaahha ha ha haaaaaaa! Oh, we mean, Bbboooooooooooooooooooo!

Saturday + Sunday

FACE PAINT BY CHILDREN

Calling all kids! Ever wanted to BE the face painter? At Face Paint By Children YOU are the artist!

Sunday

L2R HIP HOP WORKSHOPS

Hailing from Melbourne’s westside, L2R venture our way to teach your crew some poppin’ and lockin’.

Saturday + Saturday

10 MINUTE DANCE PARTIES

Welcome to the best dance party of your life. Your time starts…NOW!

Saturday + Sunday

(also happening for big kids at Up Late)

THIS IS ME, BUNTING

Decorate your own triangle flag that represents you. It will be sewn into a string of bunting to join our whole community!

Saturday

DJ MZ RIZK AND THANDO

As one of Melbourne’s busiest DJs, MzRizk has performed at Glastonbury Festival in the UK, WOMADelaide (with Neneh Cherry jumping on the mic as impromptu MC), Groovin' The Moo and Big Day Out. She’ll be joined by widely-loved Zimbabwean-born First Lady of Soul for a special Sunday morning set of musical treats especially for little kids and big kids alike.

Sunday

VENUE TOURS

Explore your new home of the arts. We’ll be running venue tours on Saturday and Sunday at 10am, 11am, 1pm and 2pm. Simply turn up on the day – no need to book ahead!

Saturday + Sunday

FOOD TRUCK

Enjoy tasty sweet treats, coffee and delicious food truck offerings onsite. For more substantial offerings, head down to your favourite place nearby.

Saturday + Sunday