HOTA Project

  • Project typeArts & culture
  • Project schedule2013 – ongoing
Aerial of HOTA with Surfers Paradise in the background

Located within walking distance from Surfers Paradise, HOTA (the Home of the Arts) is fast becoming the beating heart and home of arts and culture on the Gold Coast.

Since 2013, the HOTA Project has transformed our city's 16.9-hectare cultural precinct, delivering the outdoor stage and concert lawn, Green Bridge to Chevron Island and HOTA Gallery.

Project status

In mid-2024, community consultation aimed to understand what they would like to see and experience at the new HOTA Lyric Theatre. There were over 1400 survey responses. 92% thought the lyric theatre was important for the Gold Coast's cultural development.

The consultation and focus group results are being used in advocacy to State and Federal Governments to co-fund the project.

We will apply insights and lived experience from industry experts and First Nations in the next phase of planning and design. We have also engaged local accessibility and inclusion experts. This is to ensure the building will have enhanced accessibility features above code requirements. Consultation will continue with these groups. The aim is to improve access, inclusion, and diversity in our design. It is to ensure the best results for residents and visitors.

The new HOTA Lyric Theatre

Subject to Council endorsement and funding allocation, the next phase of delivery will be a new state-of-the-art Lyric Theatre, to meet the needs of our growing city.

Lyric theatres are designed to accommodate major theatrical productions involving music. They host performances such as musicals, ballet, opera, comedy and live music.

The new Lyric Theatre at HOTA will be a similar size to major theatres in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. It will attract around 200 performances of blockbuster international and national touring shows to the city each year.

Proposed new facilities

  • New 1800-seat lyric theatre
  • Versatile studio theatre
  • Rehearsal space
  • New foyers and food and beverage facilities
  • Urban design upgrade and interfaces

Benefits

  • Significant economic benefits during construction of $719m in economic output and 2600 jobs
  • Contribute $111m in economic output and $56m value added to the local economy yearly during operation
  • Create 600 ongoing jobs in local arts, retail, hospitality, accommodation and visitor associated businesses
  • Attract an extra 250,000+ visitors to the HOTA precinct annually, boosting surrounding businesses
  • Contribute to the local and national cultural landscape with curated and enriched programming
  • Enhance HOTA as a lively destination for dining and entertainment – day and night
  • Boost cultural tourism and extend tourist stays

Allied industry development

At its meeting in January 2023 Council noted the importance of partnerships and allied opportunities that develop and invest in HOTA. They bring resources, participants and content to the precinct.

They are important to enhancing the vitality and viability of the precinct as a vibrant destination similar to capital city precincts such as Barangaroo in Sydney, Southbank Brisbane, Federation Square in Melbourne and Elizabeth Quay Perth.

Council also resolved to undertake an expression of interest process to identify and shortlist respondents capable of delivering a Digital Education, Screen and Production Facility development on the HOTA site, by way of lease.

We are progressing the tender process, confirming the proposed education and commercial studio uses as complementary to HOTA’s cultural offerings. The facility would generate:

  • more than 1000 jobs during construction and $290 million in economic output
  • $64.5 million economic output per annum, and 311 local jobs when operational

An updated report will be provided to Council at completion of the tender and negotiation process.

HOTA masterplan mid-level review & early design for the Lyric Theatre

A masterplan for the 16.9-hectare site was developed following an international design competition in 2013. ARM Architecture Topotek1 won the competition with a flexible design that allowed the cultural precinct to be delivered in stages. The design team worked with the City throughout 2014 to fine tune the site-wide masterplan for HOTA which was endorsed by Council in 2015.

With 3 major components of the HOTA masterplan delivered, we undertook a mid-level review to help Council make decisions on future stages of the project. The review reconfirmed the components of the masterplan already endorsed by Council.

The review also confirmed previous business case work demonstrating a need for a large format 1800-seat lyric theatre and a smaller 800-seat theatre on the Gold Coast. The existing performing arts complex at HOTA is over 30 years old and showing signs of ageing and deterioration.

Investigations found that Gold Coast cultural facilities fall short of those in other comparable Australian cities and even smaller regional centres such as Toowoomba and Dunedin which each have a 1600 seat theatre.

A lack of choice, flexibility and the limited capacity of the existing performing arts theatre sees the Gold Coast community miss out on performances from smaller scale musicals and live music to concerts and events requiring larger venues.

An updated business case in 2023, found that the Lyric Theatre has a strong socio economic benefit of $2 generated for every $1 invested in the precinct.

Completed facilities

HOTA Gallery

  • Completed in 2021, the HOTA Gallery has a 1000-square metre main exhibition gallery designed for touring exhibitions of an international size and scale as well as a children's gallery, exhibition space for the City Collection and temporary collections, and 900 square metres of collection storage, work space and crate storage.
  • Built over 6 levels, the visual arts facility has over 2000 square metres of AAA rated, international standard exhibition space.

HOTA Green Bridge

  • Completed in 2020, the green bridge to Chevron Island brings HOTA within walking distance of Surfers Paradise and the light rail corridor via Chevron Island.
  • The pedestrian and cycle link spans 130 metres across the Nerang River, connecting HOTA to the Thomas Drive retail and restaurant strip.

HOTA Outdoor Stage and Concert Lawn

  • Completed in 2017, the outdoor stage and concert lawn cater for concerts, events, festivals and civic receptions
  • It accommodates audiences of up to 5000.

Location

135 Bundall Road, Bundall 4217  
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