1. Purpose
This policy outlines the principles and procedures governing the hire of Belco Arts venues to external individuals, organisations, and groups. It aims to ensure that hire of Belco Arts spaces aligns with our organisational values and the organisational conditions of hire.
2. Scope
This policy applies to all spaces available for hire at Belco Arts, including the Theatre, Rehearsal Room, Dance Studio, Workshops, Galleries, Meeting Room, Café and ancillary facilities.
3. Guiding Principles
Belco Arts’ purpose is to fuel a love of and engagement in the arts. It does this through arts practice development, community engagement, and collaboration.
Venue hire booking requests are considered on a case-by-case basis in line with the purpose and values of Belco Arts.
Belco Arts must consider a broad range of cultural, commercial, operational and reputational factors in its venue hire decision making.
Belco Arts has a positive duty to provide a safe work environment without risk to workers’ health, safety and wellbeing. This includes a requirement to take all reasonably practicable steps to prevent work health and safety incidents and to ensure that the safety of all patrons, staff, volunteers are managed respectfully with their wellbeing and safety in mind.
4. Eligibility for Hire
We accept applications to hire the venue from:
- Artists and arts organisations
- Not-for-profit organisations
- Educational institutions
- Private individuals
- Community groups
- Government entities
- Commercial entities
5. Assessment Criteria
Belco Arts will assess venue hire booking requests against a range of criteria, including:
- Safety, wellbeing and security of visitors, audience, artists and workers.
- Venue availability, utilisation and program diversity.
- Operational capacity, including staffing, scheduling conflicts, or technical requirements
- Financial viability
- Artistic quality
- Social, community and environmental impact
- Security or public safety concerns, including potential for protest, violence, or disruption
- Reputation or brand impacts to Belco Arts, its stakeholders, or associated artists
- Alignment with organisational values and strategic priorities
- Previous adherence to or breaches of policy or contracts by the hirer
Belco Arts may withhold, decline or grant any venue hire request at its absolute discretion. Belco Arts commits to undertaking this in good faith in accordance with all applicable laws. Feedback on these decisions is welcome to be directed to the Executive Director & Co-CEO via the contact details provided on the Our Team page of the Belco Arts website.
6. Conditions of Hire
All hirers must:
Respect the values and purpose of Belco Arts and the broader community it serves.
Agree to the Belco Arts standard conditions of hire, and any additional conditions which are stipulated in the Venue Hire Agreement.
Abide by all applicable laws, including anti-discrimination and workplace health and safety legislation.
Demonstrate appropriate event planning and risk management.