Accenture signs on as premier partner of Arts Centre Melbourne

Accenture has signed on as a premier partner of the Arts Centre Melbourne with the task of transforming its digital capabilities and audience experience to create a lasting cultural impact.

Arts Centre Melbourne is Australia’s largest performance arts institution of its kind, with oversight for activities at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl and Hamer Hall among other theatres and concert venues in the Southbank precinct.

Accenture’s signature follows the tech consulting giant’s recent involvement as a partner of the Adelaide Fringe Festival and fledgling SXSW conference in Sydney, supporting two of Australia’s most prominent cultural events.

“We are so pleased Accentureis joining us,” stated Arts Centre Melbourne CEO Karen Quinlan. “There is great synergy between the two organisations. Accenture’s core business is defined by innovation, reinvention and challenging the status quo. Similarly, live performance exists on the cutting edge, where every performance offers the potential to transform those who experience it.”

Quinlan took over as Arts Centre Melbourne chief in late 2022 after serving as a director of the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra and the Bendigo Art Gallery before that. Her ascension to the top role at Arts Centre Melbourne was in part based on the innovative and transformative approach she took in her previous jobs. Now, she has landed one of the country’s biggest advisories.

The partners say they aim to forge a collaborative and dynamic working relationship bringing together artistic creativity with business innovation, with Accenture tasked with helping to transform Arts Centre Melbourne’s operations, digital capabilities, and audience experience to enhance the organisation’s contemporary relevance and attract more people to its events.

Arts Centre Melbourne has a long history, originally established in the early 80s as the Victorian Arts Centre before more recently taking on its current name. Located next to the Yarra River along St Kilda Road, the complex puts on regular performances by cultural institutions such as Opera Australia, Bell Shakespeare, the Australian Ballet, and the Bangarra Dance Theatre company.

“This partnership also comes at a critical time,” Quinlan said. “As we celebrate our 40th year and reimagine our physical presence, Accenture will help us reinvent our digital infrastructure, enabling us to leverage technology for cultural impact. Fundamentally, working with the firm will enable us to do what we do best: getting live performance onto the stage and in front of an audience.”