Ahead of the creative precinct’s 40th birthday in 2026, new Creative Director and CEO Sam Strong has unveiled a fresh vision for Gasworks as a home for creativity. Complete with park upgrade, a new brand, and a renovated foyer, Gasworks will now be curated in quarterly instalments, with the first season, Summer @ Gasworks, being launched on 6 December 2025.
Summer @ Gasworks (and subsequent quarterly seasons) will be unveiled through a new program of signature free events: Seasons in the Glade. On the first Saturday of Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter, Gasworks will host a celebration of creativity, connection and community.
Events will feature live music, art and craft markets, food trucks, kid’s workshops, light shows, interactive exhibitions, open artist studios and more. This will commence on 6 December with Summer in the Glade, including bringing Christmas Carols back to Gasworks through a partnership with Lakeside Community Events.
Gasworks is distinct in its showcasing of multiple art forms. Summer @ Gasworks will see the next generation of queer storytellers programmed as part of Midsumma.
This includes full productions of two previous winners of the Queer Playwriting Award, Tom Ballard’s A Comprehensive & Profoundly Queer Accounting Of The Brief (Yet Glorious!) History Of The Gay & Lesbian Kingdom Of The Coral Sea, and Danish Sheikh’s Much To Do With Law, But More To Do With Love.
Other highlights include the next edition of the Queer Playwriting Award and Queer Reckoning by Scotty So, Lux Newman and Xanthe Dobbie, and Queer Reclamation by Ayman Kaake and Elyas Alavi.
2026 will also see a range of new partnerships, including one with Sorrento Writers Festival and Avenue Bookstore, adding literature and ideas to the Gasworks season. Sorrento Writers Festival Director Corrie Perkin will curate a series of events showcasing the finest writers and thinkers. This kicks off in February with an Australian exclusive in conversation with Geoffrey Robertson AO KC on his new book, World of War Crimes.
Gasworks has always been a vital part of Melbourne’s independent arts landscape. In 2026 this support will be expanded with the groundbreaking Open Studio. The program will see Gasworks giving over the Studio Theatre to the independent artists of Melbourne for free on the last Monday of each month.
Sam Strong said:
“We’re celebrating the milestone of turning 40 by connecting our groundbreaking past to an even more ambitious future. Gasworks has always been unique as a home for multiple artforms, a champion of the independent arts, and a space where everyone from the community can engage in creativity.
To kick off our next 40 years, we’re kicking it up a gear. On 6 December 2025, we’ll launch a new vision, a new park, a new foyer, a new brand, new quarterly seasons, new art forms, new partnerships, and new initiatives to support Melbourne’s independent artists. And we’ll do it all at the first of our new blockbuster Seasons in the Glade free events.”
Located in Albert Park on the former South Melbourne Gas Plant site, Gasworks combines four hectares of parkland with three galleries, two theatres, artist studios, workshops, function spaces, and a café. On the third Saturday of each month, the famous Gasworks Farmers’ Market features fresh local produce direct from Victorian growers and makers.
Each year, over 100,000 community members engage with creativity through 200 performing arts events, 30 visual art exhibitions, 15 artist studios, 12 farmers’ markets, over 300 classes and workshops, professional development pathways, access to spaces, and family and school holiday programs.
One of Australia’s pre-eminent arts leaders, Sam Strong has held leadership positions around Australia. These include Executive Director of Creative Industries at Creative Victoria and Chair of Melbourne Fringe and Circa.
As an Artistic Director he transformed Queensland Theatre and Griffin Theatre Company, programming seven consecutive season of subscriber growth between the two companies and setting all-time box-office records for shows and annual seasons.
An award-winning theatre director, Sam has recently directed acclaimed, sold-out productions of Joanna Murray-Smith’s Honour for Red Stitch and Trent Dalton’s Love Stories for Brisbane and Adelaide festivals and a national tour.
Other credits include Boy Swallows Universe (Queensland Theatre/Brisbane Festival/QPAC), Cassandra/Echo & Narcissus (Victorian Opera), Jasper Jones, Private Lives and Working Dog’s The Speechmaker (Melbourne Theatre Company), and The Boys (Griffin).
Summer in the Glade is the first of Gasworks’ new quarterly celebrations of creativity, connection, and community. Join in on 6 December in the newly upgraded Gasworks Park for Christmas Carols (with Lakeside Community Events), Arts and Craft Markets (with Rose Street Artists Market), Food Trucks, Kids Activities, and Open Artist Studios.
Bring friends, family, and picnic rugs to celebrate the start of the season and the launch of the future of Gasworks.
Summer in the Glade runs from 5 – 9:30pm on 6 December 2025 at Gasworks Arts Park. 21 Graham Street Albert Park VIC 3206.
For further details on Summer @ Gasworks, visit the website.
Website: https://gasworks.org.au/whats-on/
Socials: https://www.instagram.com/gasworkscreativeprecinct/
Hero image: Danish Sheikh. Photo by Tom Noble
Look out for future Seasons in the Glade:
Autumn in the Glade – Saturday 7 March 2026
Winter in the Glade – Saturday 6 June 2026
Spring in the Glade – Saturday 5 September 2026
Summer in the Glade – Saturday 5 December 2026
