The Portland Arts Centre from the front

The Portland Arts Centre, (formerly the "Portland CEMA Arts Centre"), on the corner of Bentinck and Glenelg Streets, is a multifunction venue, purpose built originally to be the home of Portland CEMA Inc. It has a small auditorium: (the Euphemia Anderson Theatre, 144 seats), exhibition areas: (the CEMA Gallery and the Woolcock Gallery), meeting room, administration office, costume department, and some storage. It is the main performing arts venue in Portland and ideally suited for all performances that don't expect a large audience. Shows that require seating of 200 upwards generally use the Civic Hall.

It has become the base for the Glenelg Shire Arts Program, with one full-time and one part-time Cultural Services Officer who administer the Shire's funded cultural program from the office on the premises. Most of the touring shows that are brought to town by the GSAP also perform here.

It is the home of Portland CEMA's performing arts groups, which meet there to rehearse as well as perform, (Portland Choral Group, Craft Group, Poetry Reading Group, Theatre Group, Historical Society & Film Group).

The Portland Arts Centre is also the administrative home for Portland CEMA Inc. The CEMA Executive meets monthly in the meeting room and and the CEMA archives are stored there. Furthermore, the Portland CEMA Annual General Meeting is held in the auditorium, open to all members.

The building was achieved for the community by the efforts of Portland CEMA Inc. (read all about it) and bore our name in recognition of this until 2005, when the name was changed in accordance with the wishes of the Shire Council. The main gallery was then named the CEMA  Gallery.

Front Entrance                                                                                                                    Side view showing statue and scrolling sign