Good evening.

It’s a real privilege to stand here tonight at this fantastic new venue surrounded by the people who make the inner west come alive with creativity.

I acknowledge the Gadical and Wangal people and pay my respects to Elders past and present.

The Living Room Theatre has spent 25 years creating immersive experiences in unusual and forgotten places, shifting perceptions and engaging in critical dialogues about the issues that matter. Your work goes beyond the statistics of violence against women and helps us feel and understand the lived experience of many.

I want to recognise the amazing leadership of Michelle St Anne. Michelle saw the limitations and expectations put on artists and decided to do something about it. By founding The Living Room Theatre, Michelle created a space where artists could present the art they wanted to create and tell their stories their way. Michelle, you have made our community richer, more vibrant, and more honest.

If you’re here tonight, you know what it means to fight for the arts. You know the late nights, the grant applications, the uncertainty, and the resilience it takes to keep creating. The Inner West is shaped by its artists and you are the backbone of our community’s identity, innovation, and social vibrancy. But we also know that creativity needs more than passion: it needs space, support, and, yes, funding.

Spaces like this are precious. They’re where independent artists can make, experiment, and take risks. It’s more important than ever that we stand together and advocate for the resources our sector needs. Supporting artists means supporting the future of the Inner West.

As we celebrate 25 years of The Living Room Theatre, let’s not just look back. Let’s look forward. This new space is a place to build on the legacy of the past and foucs on the future.

A healthy arts sector is inseparable from a healthy society. It strengthens democracy, wellbeing, and national identity. Sustained support for arts and culture isn’t nice to have, it’s essential for Australia’s cultural future.

Tonight. let’s celebrate all the artists who make our community what it is, and to the next 25 years of creativity, collaboration and courage.

Thank you and have a great night!