Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts
Encyclopedia
Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts (PICA) is a contemporary visual and performance arts venue located in Perth, Western Australia
.
. The building, which dates from 1896, was for 40 years the Perth Boys' and Girls' School (one of several schools known collectively as Perth Central School). The Perth Central School was developed principally between 1877 and 1914. It amalgamated the Infants' School, Perth Boys' School
, Perth Girls' School, Manual Training School and Normal School on the one site between Roe and James Streets.
On 22 May 1895, the contract to construct Perth Boys' and Girls' Schools building in James Street was awarded to William Atkins for the sum of 10,452 pounds. Soon after the contract was awarded, the plans were altered to include an extra eight classrooms, however only six of these were constructed at the time. On 18 January 1897, the new Perth Boys' and Girls' School building, which had been completed a few months earlier, was officially opened by the Minister for Education
, Mr (later Sir) E. H. Wittenoom
. The first headmaster was Mr W J Rooney. The Education Department Report for the year 1896, stated: The new Central Boys' and Girls' Schools, which had been in the course of erection on the reserve in James Street, Perth, for some nine or ten months, were completed at the end of the year. ... The buildings provide accommodation for 500 boys on the ground floor and 500 girls on the upper floor. The construction of the Boy’s School was the largest project undertaken for the Education Department in the 1890s. In April 1900, further additions to the Perth Boys' and Girls' Schools building were completed. The additions included two classrooms: one for the boys and one for the girls, each designed to house seventy-five children.
In September 1936, the new Perth Girls' School opened in East Perth
and the entire building was used by the Boys' School. In 1947, the Perth Boys' School became the Perth Boys' High School. During the 1950s, residential development in the inner city decreased as land values increased and the growth of the suburbs displaced inner city living.
In 1957, the Perth Boys' High School closed and the Perth Technical College moved into the buildings. The building was known as the James Street Annexe. In the following years, a number of minor changes were made to the building, including electrical connections and installation of gas heating.
In July 1988, the successor of Perth Technical College, TAFE, vacated the building and it became the Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts (PICA). Plans to refurbish the building were drawn up by Donaldson and Warn. In 1991, the building was refurbished according to revised plans. On 8 November 1991 the building was officially opened as PICA. In 1992 Donaldson and Warn were awarded a commendation for their work on the PICA building by the WA Chapter of RAIA
in the category of Conservation/Recycled buildings. In 1996, PICA used the building for a variety of purposes including: a cafe, performing space, gallery space and administration space.
below ground floor level. On the northern side of the building the stone plinth is below the present street level. The decorative detailing is focused along the eaves and around the entry porches and window openings. The building has a corrugated iron, hipped roof with a raised section over the central gallery space. There are wide eaves with timber slats to all sides. The corrugated iron roof has been reclad and no chimney
s or roof vents are visible, but the majority of the down pipes and rainwater heads appear to be original. The building was originally designed with two principal entries, one for the Girls' School on the northern facade and one for the Boys' School on the western side. The Boys' School entry was designed as a projecting single storey porch with a hipped corrugated iron roof, plain brick walls along the sides and a triple arched entry to the front. The Girls' School entry faced onto James Street and was housed at the base of the projecting tower. This is now used as the main entry to PICA. The current interiors have a blend of original detailing with clearly contrasting modern adaptations and fixtures dating from the early 1990s conversion of the building to a contemporary arts centre. Some of the key features of the recent works include: the introduction of direct access to the ground floor of James Street; a large new reception area off this entry; a functional timber and steel stair within the reception area; large plain openings through former classroom walls; the creation of an open, ground floor performance space at the western end; the use of exposed steel trusses to support the gallery over the performance space; and the creation of a cafe within two former ground floor classrooms at the north-eastern corner of the building.
(visual, performing or mixed) in Western Australia. Through a year-round program of exhibitions, performances, screenings, studios, publications and a range of interdisciplinary projects, PICA seeks to promote the contemporary arts while stimulating critical discussion about the arts and broader cultural issues. PICA also offers a public and education program which seeks to strengthen the relationship between its artistic programs and diverse audiences.
PICA is centrally located adjacent to the city's library, art gallery and entertainment precinct forming a "cultural hub" within the city. The institute plays a key role in Perth's creative community and seeks to provide support to artists at all stages of their career through programming, development, mentoring and advocacy opportunities. In many aspects of its operations, PICA might be understood as an incubator: providing resources, mentoring and support for both emerging and established artists whilst promoting new and emerging ideas, forms and practices to the broader community.
(WA) on 3 July 1978, and entered into the Register of the National Estate by the Australian Heritage Commission on 21 October, 1980. It was permanently entered on to the State Register of Heritage Places on 24 March 2000.
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
.
History
PICA is currently housed in a heritage building at 53 James Street, NorthbridgeNorthbridge, Western Australia
Northbridge is an inner city suburb of Perth, Western Australia, separated from Perth's central business district by the Fremantle and Joondalup railway lines...
. The building, which dates from 1896, was for 40 years the Perth Boys' and Girls' School (one of several schools known collectively as Perth Central School). The Perth Central School was developed principally between 1877 and 1914. It amalgamated the Infants' School, Perth Boys' School
Old Perth Boys School
The Old Perth Boys School is located at 139 St Georges Terrace, Perth, Western Australia. The single-storey limestone building was designed by William Sandford in 1852 and is a significant example of a colonial building constructed in Perth from the mid-nineteenth century.-Built form:The Old Perth...
, Perth Girls' School, Manual Training School and Normal School on the one site between Roe and James Streets.
On 22 May 1895, the contract to construct Perth Boys' and Girls' Schools building in James Street was awarded to William Atkins for the sum of 10,452 pounds. Soon after the contract was awarded, the plans were altered to include an extra eight classrooms, however only six of these were constructed at the time. On 18 January 1897, the new Perth Boys' and Girls' School building, which had been completed a few months earlier, was officially opened by the Minister for Education
Minister for Education (Western Australia)
The Minister for Education of Western Australia is the member of the Government of Western Australia responsible for maintenance and improvement of Western Australia's system of education, and is answerable to the Parliament for all actions taken by the Department of Education and Training under...
, Mr (later Sir) E. H. Wittenoom
Edward Wittenoom
Sir Edward Charles Wittenoom KCMG was an Australian politician, member of the Western Australian Legislative Council for thirty four years.- Early life :...
. The first headmaster was Mr W J Rooney. The Education Department Report for the year 1896, stated: The new Central Boys' and Girls' Schools, which had been in the course of erection on the reserve in James Street, Perth, for some nine or ten months, were completed at the end of the year. ... The buildings provide accommodation for 500 boys on the ground floor and 500 girls on the upper floor. The construction of the Boy’s School was the largest project undertaken for the Education Department in the 1890s. In April 1900, further additions to the Perth Boys' and Girls' Schools building were completed. The additions included two classrooms: one for the boys and one for the girls, each designed to house seventy-five children.
In September 1936, the new Perth Girls' School opened in East Perth
East Perth, Western Australia
East Perth is an inner suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located next to the Perth CBD.Primarily an industrial area in the early twentieth century, it was the location of the East Perth gas works, East Perth Power Station , the East Perth railway yard, and East Perth engine sheds.A considerable...
and the entire building was used by the Boys' School. In 1947, the Perth Boys' School became the Perth Boys' High School. During the 1950s, residential development in the inner city decreased as land values increased and the growth of the suburbs displaced inner city living.
In 1957, the Perth Boys' High School closed and the Perth Technical College moved into the buildings. The building was known as the James Street Annexe. In the following years, a number of minor changes were made to the building, including electrical connections and installation of gas heating.
In July 1988, the successor of Perth Technical College, TAFE, vacated the building and it became the Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts (PICA). Plans to refurbish the building were drawn up by Donaldson and Warn. In 1991, the building was refurbished according to revised plans. On 8 November 1991 the building was officially opened as PICA. In 1992 Donaldson and Warn were awarded a commendation for their work on the PICA building by the WA Chapter of RAIA
Royal Australian Institute of Architects
The Australian Institute of Architects is a professional body for architects in Australia. Until August 2008, the Institute traded as the "Royal Australian Institute of Architects", which remains its official name....
in the category of Conservation/Recycled buildings. In 1996, PICA used the building for a variety of purposes including: a cafe, performing space, gallery space and administration space.
Built form
The PICA building was designed in the Federation Free Classical style. The exterior features prominent decorative elements but, overall, displays a degree of restraint appropriate to a serious academic institution. The physical evidence confirms that main boys' and girls' entries were given particular emphasis in their level of detailing, but that the building was clearly designed to be seen in the round. The external walls are constructed of face brick in stretcher bond, with a random stone plinthPlinth
In architecture, a plinth is the base or platform upon which a column, pedestal, statue, monument or structure rests. Gottfried Semper's The Four Elements of Architecture posited that the plinth, the hearth, the roof, and the wall make up all of architectural theory. The plinth usually rests...
below ground floor level. On the northern side of the building the stone plinth is below the present street level. The decorative detailing is focused along the eaves and around the entry porches and window openings. The building has a corrugated iron, hipped roof with a raised section over the central gallery space. There are wide eaves with timber slats to all sides. The corrugated iron roof has been reclad and no chimney
Chimney
A chimney is a structure for venting hot flue gases or smoke from a boiler, stove, furnace or fireplace to the outside atmosphere. Chimneys are typically vertical, or as near as possible to vertical, to ensure that the gases flow smoothly, drawing air into the combustion in what is known as the...
s or roof vents are visible, but the majority of the down pipes and rainwater heads appear to be original. The building was originally designed with two principal entries, one for the Girls' School on the northern facade and one for the Boys' School on the western side. The Boys' School entry was designed as a projecting single storey porch with a hipped corrugated iron roof, plain brick walls along the sides and a triple arched entry to the front. The Girls' School entry faced onto James Street and was housed at the base of the projecting tower. This is now used as the main entry to PICA. The current interiors have a blend of original detailing with clearly contrasting modern adaptations and fixtures dating from the early 1990s conversion of the building to a contemporary arts centre. Some of the key features of the recent works include: the introduction of direct access to the ground floor of James Street; a large new reception area off this entry; a functional timber and steel stair within the reception area; large plain openings through former classroom walls; the creation of an open, ground floor performance space at the western end; the use of exposed steel trusses to support the gallery over the performance space; and the creation of a cafe within two former ground floor classrooms at the north-eastern corner of the building.
Current use
PICA began operating from the James Street building in 1988 with the main aim of promoting contemporary artContemporary art
Contemporary art can be defined variously as art produced at this present point in time or art produced since World War II. The definition of the word contemporary would support the first view, but museums of contemporary art commonly define their collections as consisting of art produced...
(visual, performing or mixed) in Western Australia. Through a year-round program of exhibitions, performances, screenings, studios, publications and a range of interdisciplinary projects, PICA seeks to promote the contemporary arts while stimulating critical discussion about the arts and broader cultural issues. PICA also offers a public and education program which seeks to strengthen the relationship between its artistic programs and diverse audiences.
PICA is centrally located adjacent to the city's library, art gallery and entertainment precinct forming a "cultural hub" within the city. The institute plays a key role in Perth's creative community and seeks to provide support to artists at all stages of their career through programming, development, mentoring and advocacy opportunities. In many aspects of its operations, PICA might be understood as an incubator: providing resources, mentoring and support for both emerging and established artists whilst promoting new and emerging ideas, forms and practices to the broader community.
Heritage Value
The former Perth Boys and Girls School building was classified by the National TrustNational Trust of Australia
The Australian Council of National Trusts is the peak body for community-based, non-government organisations committed to promoting and conserving Australia's indigenous, natural and historic heritage....
(WA) on 3 July 1978, and entered into the Register of the National Estate by the Australian Heritage Commission on 21 October, 1980. It was permanently entered on to the State Register of Heritage Places on 24 March 2000.
Further reading
- Perth Boys School - 1847 - 1947 - The Story of the First Hundred Years of a Great School with a Background of the History of Education in Western Australia John K Ewers, (Perth Government Printer) 1947
- Creating the Public Realm : Public Architecture in Western Australia : 1890-2000 : works produced by the Public Works Department and the Building Management Authority Barbara van Bronswijk and Duncan Richards (BMA) 1994