Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts facts for kids
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The Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts (PICA) is a cool place in Perth, Western Australia. It's where you can see modern art, including visual art, performances, and mixed media. The building itself is very old and special, known as a heritage-listed building.
Contents
History of the PICA Building
From School to Art Centre
The building where PICA is located today has a long and interesting past. It was built in 1896 on James Street. For 40 years, it was a school for both boys and girls. This school was part of a bigger group of schools called Perth Central School.
Building a New School
In 1895, a builder named William Atkins was chosen to construct the new school. It cost about £10,452, which is like millions of Australian dollars today! The plans were changed to add more classrooms. The new school officially opened on January 18, 1897. The first headmaster was W. J. Rooney.
The school was very big for its time. It could hold 500 boys on the ground floor and 500 girls on the upper floor. This was the largest building project for the Education Department in the 1890s. More classrooms were added in 1900.
Changes Over the Years
In 1936, a new Perth Girls' School opened in East Perth. After that, the James Street building was used only by the Boys' School. In 1947, it became Perth Boys' High School. By the 1950s, fewer families lived in the city centre. Many people moved to the suburbs, so the school eventually closed in 1959.
New Uses for the Building
After the Boys' High School closed, the Perth Technical College moved into the building in 1959. It was then called the James Street Annexe. Over the years, some small changes were made, like adding electricity and gas heating.
A Special Heritage Building
The old school building is very important. It was officially recognised as a special heritage site in 1978 by the National Trust. In 2000, it was permanently added to the State Register of Heritage Places. This means it's protected because of its historical value.
Becoming PICA
In 1988, the college (which was then called TAFE) moved out. That's when the Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts (PICA) took over the building! Architects Donaldson and Warn helped redesign the building. It was officially opened as PICA on November 8, 1991. The architects even won an award for their great work. Since then, PICA has used the building for many things. It has a cafe, spaces for performances, art galleries, and offices.
What the PICA Building Looks Like
The PICA building has a special architectural style called Federation Free Classical. It looks grand and serious, which was perfect for a school. The outside walls are made of brick with a stone base. You can see fancy decorations around the windows and entrances.
The roof is made of corrugated iron and has wide eaves. The building originally had two main entrances. One was for the Girls' School on the northern side. The other was for the Boys' School on the western side. The Girls' School entrance was at the bottom of a tall tower. This tower entrance is now the main way to get into PICA.
Inside, you'll find a mix of old and new. Some original details are still there. But there are also modern changes from when it became an art centre in the 1990s. For example, there's a new reception area and a cool timber and steel staircase. Old classroom walls were opened up to create bigger spaces. There's a large performance area and a cafe in what used to be classrooms.
What PICA Does
The Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts (PICA) started in 1988. Its main goal is to show and support contemporary art in Western Australia. Contemporary art means art made in our time, which can be visual, performance-based, or a mix of different art forms.
PICA always has something happening! They have exhibitions, live performances, and film screenings all year round. They also offer educational programs for the public. Since 1992, PICA has hosted an annual exhibition called "Hatched." This show features amazing artwork from art school graduates across Australia.
See also
- Picabar, a bar located next to PICA
