Lion Arts Centre

The building The Fowler's "Lion" Factory, with its distinctive parapet topped by a statue of a lion, was designed by architect Frank Counsell in federation style for D. & J. Fowler Ltd in 1906. The brickwork was built by W. Sander & Sons, while the lion statue took three months to be carved by a Melbourne stonemason, John Patrick Jackson. The building is noted for its high-quality brick detailing and the well-designed composition of the facade. The building was used for packaging Fowler's Lion brand of flour, and the (original and now restored) signage on the parapet still says 'Fowler's "Lion" Factory'. Fowler's wide range of Lion brand products, trademarked in 1886, were very popular. and was known as the Fringe Club. In 1992 the factory and surrounds was converted into an arts centre, henceforth known as the Lion Arts Centre, which became home to a variety of arts organisations. In 1988, a copy of the lion was installed on the parapet, the original having moved with D & J Fowler. The yellow material seen slurping over the wall from the roof would represent custard, signifying the shift from industrial-commercial use of the building to arts use. The Lion brand of custard powder is still on sale as at 2022 . ==1992–present==

After the creation of the centre in 1992, its tenants moved in, including the Media Resource Centre, Dance Hub SA, and Craftsouth , the Lion Arts Centre accommodates the Media Resource Centre, Nexus Arts, ACE Open galleries and studios, the State Theatre Company of South Australia offices and Guildhouse (formerly Craftsouth). The program, beginning in mid-2025, will include a dedicated space at Lion Arts, to be used for residencies and mentorship of dancers developing new dance works, with administrative support from ADT. Works developed in the LOFT space, located in the 1st floor studio formerly occupied by Dance Hub SA (which closed in mid-2024), would be showcased as part of Adelaide Fringe in 2026. ==Music==

Music House In 2000–2001, Music House at the Lion Arts Centre was established, to provide in order to promote and develop the contemporary music industry in South Australia. It occupied Level 1 of the building until 2002. Fowler's Live On 4 July 2003, the music venue named Fowler's Live opened on the ground floor. It hosted a wide range of live music, including The Bellrays, Paul Dempsey, Ben Kweller, and Sonic Youth. The Fowler's Live Music Awards ran from 2012 to 2014, before being rebranded as the South Australian Music Awards in 2015. of Frame Creative, put together a pitch and won the lease to start operating from 1 January 2019, under the name Lion Arts Factory. After a major renovation in January 2019, the ground floor, basement and mezzanine are occupied by The Lion Arts Factory, a live music venue. The emphasis is on live music, but management is also keen to host other forms of performing arts, in particular theatre and comedy. Along with all live music venues, the Lion Arts Factory has been badly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, losing over 250 shows as of October 2021. The co-owners of the venue and Five Four Entertainment have asked for financial assistance from the state government, and a five-year extension of their lease, to keep their businesses from ruin. ==Footnotes==