{{Short description|Arts centre in Adelaide, Australia}} {{use dmy dates|date=August 2019}} {{use Australian English|date=August 2019}} {{redirects here|Guildhouse|a type of historically used to house guilds|Guild hall}} thumb|right|300px|The Lion Arts Centre at night. The '''Lion Arts Centre''', also known as '''Fowler's Lion Factory''' and '''Fowlers Building''', with the main music venue within known as the '''Lion Arts Factory''' (formerly '''Fowler's Live'''), is a multi-purpose arts centre, including studios, galleries, music and performance centres, and offices in Adelaide, South Australia. It is situated on the corner of North Terrace and Morphett Street in Adelaide's West End, in a refurbished and repurposed factory once owned by wholesale grocers D. & J. Fowler Ltd. With its distinctive red brick federation-style architecture, the 1906 building designed by Frank Counsell is state heritage-listed.
After its use as a factory ceased, the building started being used as a performance space. It was known as the '''Living Arts Centre''' from about 1986 until 1992, during which time the building was renovated, converted and renamed to Lion Arts Centre.
==History== ===The building=== The Fowler's "Lion" Factory, with its distinctive parapet topped by a statue of a lion, was designed by architect Frank Counsell in federation style for D. & J. Fowler Ltd in 1906.<ref name=SAM>{{cite web| website=SA Memory|publisher=State Library of South Australia|url=http://www.samemory.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=243&c=661|title=Lion Arts Centre|access-date=5 August 2019}}</ref> The brickwork was built by W. Sander & Sons, while the lion statue took three months to be carved by a Melbourne stonemason,<ref name=SAH>{{cite web|website=SA History Hub|title=North Terrace West|url=https://sahistoryhub.history.sa.gov.au:443/places/north-terrace-west?hh=1&|access-date=5 August 2019}}</ref> John Patrick Jackson. The building is noted for its high-quality brick detailing and the well-designed composition of the facade.<ref name=Adelaidepedia>{{cite web|website=Adelaidepedia|url=https://adelaidepedia.com.au/wiki/Fowler%27s_Lion_Factory|title=Fowler's Lion Factory|access-date=6 August 2019}}</ref> The building was used for packaging Fowler's Lion brand of flour, and the (original and now restored) signage on the parapet still says 'Fowler's "Lion" Factory'. Fowler's wide range of Lion brand products, trademarked in 1886, were very popular.<ref name=SAM/>
The original symmetrical shape of the facade was destroyed in 1966, when the eastern wing was demolished for the widening of Morphett Street and the construction of two new bridges across North Terrace and the River Torrens.<ref name=SAM/>
===Conversion to arts use=== D & J Fowler was only taken over by Southern Farmers Ltd in 1982-83,<ref name=Adelaidepedia/> but the factory lay vacant from around the middle of the 20th century, until the space was revived in the 1970s as offices and performance space for the Adelaide Fringe Festival, which included live music<ref name=explorer>{{cite web|website=Adelaide City Explorer|url=https://adelaidecityexplorer.com.au/items/show/185?tour=28&index=14|title=Fowler's Live|author1= Adelaide City Explorer Team|author2= Government of South Australia. Music Development Office|author3=Music SA|access-date=5 August 2019}}</ref> and was known as the Fringe Club.<ref name=broadsheet/>
In 1984, there was a Steering Committee appointed to investigate the feasibility of the Living Arts Centre, the precursor to the Lion Arts Centre, with the full conversion of the building planned in 1991.{{#tag:ref|This is noted in the State Library Catalogue, on the catalogue entry for ''Papers relating to the Lion Arts Centre'' [mixed material] (1991): "This series comprises: minutes of meetings; questionnaires; brochures; correspondence; and interior design plans for the refurbishment and tenancy of the Crafts Council of South Australia and the Jam Factory at the Lion Arts Centre (previously known as the Living Arts Centre)." See also ''Report of the Steering Committee Appointed to Investigate the Feasibility of the Living Arts Centre'' (1984) and ''Lion Arts Centre Stage 2 development strategy'' (1993?) (See [https://www.catalog.slsa.sa.gov.au/ SLSA catalogue].)|group=Note}} AusStage lists ten sources which list performances at the Living Arts Centre between February 1986 and February 1990 (and one in 1994, but this may be an anomaly).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/venue/713|website=AusStage: The Australian Live Performance Database|title=Living Arts Centre|access-date=11 August 2019 }}</ref> In 1992 the factory and surrounds was converted into an arts centre, henceforth known as the Lion Arts Centre, which became home to a variety of arts organisations.<ref name=SAM/>
In 1988, a copy of the lion was installed on the parapet, the original having moved with D & J Fowler.<ref name=Adelaidepedia/> The yellow material seen slurping over the wall from the roof would represent custard, signifying the shift from industrial-commercial use of the building to arts use. The Lion brand of custard powder is still on sale as at 2022 <https://079.drakes.com.au/lines/lion-custard-powder-vanilla-375g>.
==1992–present== After the creation of the centre in 1992, its tenants moved in, including the Media Resource Centre, Dance Hub SA, and Craftsouth<ref name=SAM/> (formerly Craft Association of South Australia), a not-for-profit supporting visual artists and designers.<ref name=guild>{{cite web|website=Guildhouse|url=https://guildhouse.org.au/about-us/|title=About|access-date=6 August 2019}}</ref>
{{as of|2019}}, the Lion Arts Centre accommodates the Media Resource Centre, Nexus Arts,<ref>{{cite web|website=Only Adelaide|url=https://www.onlyadelaide.com.au/nexus-arts|title=Nexus Arts: Lion Arts Centre|access-date=5 August 2019}}</ref> ACE Open galleries and studios,<ref>{{cite web|website=ACE Open|url=https://aceopen.art/about/|title=About|access-date=5 August 2019}}</ref> the State Theatre Company of South Australia offices and '''Guildhouse''' (formerly Craftsouth).<ref name=guild/>
The JamFactory and Mercury Cinema are adjacent and sometimes regarded as part of the complex.<ref name=indaily/>
In November 2024 the state government announced a new program, called LOFT, in collaboration with the Australian Dance Theatre (ADT).<ref>{{cite web |title=COMING SOON |website=Australian Dance Theatre |url=https://www.adt.org.au/engagement-loft-dance |access-date=18 November 2024}}</ref> The program, beginning in mid-2025, will include a dedicated space at Lion Arts, to be used for residencies and mentorship of dancers developing new dance works, with administrative support from ADT. Works developed in the LOFT space, located in the 1st floor studio formerly occupied by Dance Hub SA (which closed in mid-2024<ref>{{cite web |title=Home page: Announcement |website=Dance Hub SA |url=https://www.dancehubsa.com.au/ |access-date=18 November 2024| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241014210636/https://www.dancehubsa.com.au/| archive-date= 14 October 2024|url-status=live}}</ref>), would be showcased as part of Adelaide Fringe in 2026.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dance returns to Lion Arts|first=Helen |last=Karakulak |website=InDaily|date=11 November 2024 |url=https://www.indailysa.com.au/citymag/culture/2024/11/11/dance-returns-to-lion-arts |access-date=17 November 2024}}</ref>
==Music== ===Music House=== In 2000–2001, Music House at the Lion Arts Centre was established, to provide in order to promote and develop the contemporary music industry in South Australia.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dpti.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0015/116403/annrep0001.pdf|title=2000–01annual report|author=Government of South Australia. Department for Transport, Urban Planning and the Arts|date=2002|access-date=5 August 2019}}</ref> It occupied Level 1 of the building until 2002.<ref name=explorer/>
===Music SA=== From sometime before 2007 until 2015, the not-for-profit training and music promotion organisation Music SA was located on Level 1, with the address given as "Fowlers Building" for some of that time.<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070222060751/http://www.musicsa.com.au/contact/default.aspx|archive-date=22 February 2007|website=MusicSA|title=Contact|url=http://www.musicsa.com.au/contact/default.aspx|access-date=8 August 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120818122830/http://www.musicsa.com.au/contact/default.aspx|archive-date=18 August 2012|website=MusicSA|title=Contact|url=http://www.musicsa.com.au/contact/default.aspx|access-date=8 August 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150315034008/http://musicsa.com.au/contact/default.aspx|archive-date=15 March 2015|website=MusicSA|title=Contact|url=http://www.musicsa.com.au/contact/default.aspx|access-date=8 August 2019}}</ref>
===Fowler's Live=== On 4 July 2003, the music venue named Fowler's Live opened on the ground floor. It hosted a wide range of live music, including The Bellrays, Paul Dempsey, Ben Kweller, and Sonic Youth. The Fowler's Live Music Awards ran from 2012 to 2014, before being rebranded as the South Australian Music Awards in 2015.<ref name=explorer/> The lease ended and Fowler's Live closed at the end of 2018.
===Lion Arts Factory=== With a tender process selecting the new lessees of the venue in August 2018, Ross Osmon and Craig Lock from Five Four Entertainment and Hugo Pedler from West Oak Hotel, along with design collaborators Sam, Simon and Tim Pearce<ref name=broadsheet>{{cite web|website=Broadsheet|url=https://www.broadsheet.com.au/adelaide/entertainment/article/lion-arts-factory-roars-back-life|title=The Lion Arts Factory roars back to life|first=Tim|last=Watts|date=7 February 2019|access-date=7 August 2019}}</ref> of Frame Creative, put together a pitch and won the lease to start operating from 1 January 2019, under the name Lion Arts Factory.<ref name=indaily>{{cite news|website=InDaily|url=https://indaily.com.au/arts-and-culture/2018/10/04/new-live-music-and-arts-venue-for-adelaides-west-end/|title=New live music and arts venture for Adelaide's West End|first=Suzie|last=Keen|date=4 October 2019|access-date=6 August 2019}}</ref><ref name=citymag>{{cite news|website=Citymag|url=https://citymag.indaily.com.au/culture/coming-soon/lion-arts-factory-reveal/|title=Lion Arts Factory reveal their plans to become the new music mecca in Adelaide|date=10 December 2018|access-date=6 August 2019}}</ref>
After a major renovation in January 2019, the ground floor, basement and mezzanine are occupied by The Lion Arts Factory, a live music venue.<ref name=citymag/> Previously boarded windows had been opened up to let light in, paint stripped off the red brick walls, the main stage extended to {{convert|13|m|ft}} and the mezzanine reopened. Downstairs is the Coopers Green Room, with chesterfield sofas.<ref name=broadsheet/><ref>{{cite news|website=citymag|url=https://citymag.indaily.com.au/habits/plate-and-cup/first-look-at-lion-arts-factory/|date=6 February 2019|title=First look at Lion Arts Factory before they open this week|first=Josh|last=Fanning|others=photos by Andrè Castellucci|access-date=7 August 2019}}</ref>
The emphasis is on live music, but management is also keen to host other forms of performing arts, in particular theatre and comedy.<ref name=indaily/> All genres of music–heavy metal, rock and goth, punk, electric, hip-hop, house and others–are featured. Capacity is 500 and the venue opens until 5am on weekends.<ref name=citymag/> The venue hosted Adelaide Fringe performances from 2020.<ref name=broadsheet/>
The venue won the South Australian Music Awards' Best Venue award for two years in a row, and contributes around {{AUD|7 million}} to the local economy annually.<ref name=citymag2021>{{cite web | title=Lion Arts Factory and Five Four Entertainment are fighting for a future|first=Angela| last= Skujins | website=CityMag | date=7 October 2021 | url=https://citymag.indaily.com.au/culture/lion-arts-factory-and-five-four-entertainment-are-fighting-for-a-future/ | access-date=22 October 2021}}</ref>
Along with all live music venues, the Lion Arts Factory has been badly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, losing over 250 shows as of October 2021. The co-owners of the venue and Five Four Entertainment have asked for financial assistance from the state government, and a five-year extension of their lease, to keep their businesses from ruin.<ref name=citymag2021/>
==Footnotes== {{reflist|group=Note}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==Further reading== *{{cite web|website=Rambling Wombat|url=https://ramblingwombat.wordpress.com/2017/10/04/fowlers-lion-factory/|title=Fowler's "Lion" Factory|date=4 October 2017}} − Blog with interesting history of D. & J. Fowler, including photos.
==External links== *{{cite web|url=https://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/venue/2955|website=AusStage: The Australian Live Performance Database|title=Lion Arts Centre}}
Category:Arts organisations based in Australia