An outdoor venue, perfect for installations and sculptural work.

Once a carter’s backyard, an escaped convict’s hideaway and a drying room for apple juice filters, Kelly’s Garden is a space that offers a unique urban heritage environment for contemporary sculptors and installation artists.

Kelly’s Garden is a courtyard enclosed by the three storey brick and stone walls of the old warehouses it once serviced. It is accessed via Kelly’s Lane off Salamanca Place, and has a large sliding gate with specially designed peepholes.

Kelly’s Garden has been restored to cater for a continuing program of large scale sculpture and installation works.


Venue Hire Rates

Salamanca Arts Centre Associate Members
FREE for 2 – 3 months


Kelly’s Garden is a free space available for two to three month long exhibitions for Salamanca Arts Centre Associate Members only.


Availability for 2025 & Beyond

If you would like to be notified when applications open for 2025 dates or when become available due to a cancellation, please sign up to our alert list.

The Courtyard is located at the heart of Salamanca Arts Centre.
The perfect place to sit and relax during the day. 

The back wall of The Courtyard is a natural rock face, creating a unique backdrop for arts activity. The same rock face continues into the adjacent Peacock Theatre.

The Courtyard has been used successfully for theatrical and dance performances, music recitals, Salamanca Arts Centre Resident Markets, film screenings, and cabaret. And for the past 20 Years has been the primary venue for the weekly Friday night live music event, Rektango.

In 2019, with the assistance of Independent Member for Clark, Andrew Wilkie MP, Salamanca Arts Centre was awarded a Federal Government Regional Development Grant to make improvements to the Salamanca Arts Centre Courtyard. Major renovations were completed in 2020 aims to improve the visibility and accessibility of tenancies around the Courtyard. Automatic doors have been installed, along with more glazing and track lighting. The peacock feather-shaped platforms invite a greater variety of art forms. The state-of-the-art sound system and outdoor theatre lighting will create an unforgettable audience experience. Salamanca Arts Centre commissioned projects in public art and furniture design. Floating against the rock face is Escape Pod, a work by Colin Langridge inspired by a maritime escape pod. Embedded in the paving is a stainless-steel peacock feather by Gerhard Mausz above which are custom Sassafras timber benches and tables designed and made by Paul Allen.


Venue Hire Rates

Pop-Up Performance / Event
$85 per Hire (GST Inclusive)
Daytime | Non-Exclusive Hire

Evening Public Performance / Event
$210 per Hire (GST Inclusive)
Evening | Exclusive Hire

Evening Private Event
$330 per Hire (GST Inclusive)
Evening | Exclusive Hire
Includes all non-Arts Events, Private Functions, Corporate Events

All prices are inclusive of GST and are effective from 1 January 2024.

*Venue Hire Rates will increase as of 1 January 2025.
For details of 2025 Venue Hire Rates, please refer to the Courtyard Venue Hire Pack / Conditions of Hire (PDF)


Availability

Due to the location of The Courtyard and the significant sound bleed between the adjacent venues, the availability of The Courtyard is pending the bookings and scheduled activity in the adjacent venues (Peacock Theatre, Founders Room, Sidespace Gallery, Long Gallery). An event cannot occur in The Courtyard if there is already an event scheduled in an adjacent venue.

There is a live music event (Rektango) in the Courtyard every Friday evening between 5:30pm – 7:30pm.
The Courtyard is not available to hire during Rektango.


Applying for the Courtyard : 2025 Calendar REMAINING DATES

Salamanca Arts Centre (SAC) recently sought applications for inclusion in the Courtyard 2025 Calendar (January 2025 – March 2026).

Applications were sought for for Performances, Concerts, Events, Workshops, Launches, and Private Functions.

**Applications for the remaining dates in the 2025 Calendar closed on Monday 30 September 2025**
Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application early November 2024. 


Applying for 2026 and Beyond

The Courtyard is fully booked for the remainder of 2024.
**Applications for the remaining dates in the 2025 Calendar closed on Monday 30 September 2025**

Availability of remaining dates in 2025 can be advised once assessments are complete.

Salamanca Arts Centre assesses applications for the Courtyard twice annually, with application rounds occurring in April and September each year, with Special Applications Round (in the event of a cancellation) if required.

If you would like to be notified when applications open for 2026 or dates become available due to a cancellation, please sign up to our alert list.