The Butterfly Club is a performing arts venue in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The club was conceived and created by artist and entrepreneur, Matthew Grant. The building was opened to the public in 1999. Grant sold the club in November 2003.[1] The venue draws upon a growing interest in cabaret. By 2006, the club was Melbourne's only full-time cabaret venue.[2]
The Butterfly Club has presented over 1,000 artists, with performers including Tim Minchin and Eddie Perfect.[3] CEO Simone Pulga claims the venue became sustainable using an arts model, however the business is in debt and MEAA is assisting staff with claims they have been underpaid.[4][5]
The club, together with THe Australian National Academy of Music, has played a role in developing the Melbourne Cabaret Festival. Currently, Simone Pulga is serving as the club's.[6]
In December 2012, The Butterfly Club announced it was planning to relocate to a building on Carson Pl. In conjunction with this relocation, a fundraising effort was launched, through crowdfunding and social media campaigns, as well as media coverage, under the tagline 'Save The Butterfly Club.' [7]
Following the relocation, The Butterfly Club began trading from its new home, in the Melbourne CBD, in February 2013.[8]
In May 2024, The Guardian published an exclusive article confirming allegations of CEO Simone Pulga verbally abusing, intimidating and behaving in a threatening manner toward two performers during the 2023 Melbourne Fringe Festival. The Butterfly Club will no longer be a Melbourne Fringe venue in 2024 after an internal investigation found Simone Pulga had breached their code of conduct. [9]
References
[edit]- ^ "Arts News, Commentary, Reviews & Industry Analysis - ArtsHub Australia". Archived from the original on 21 September 2007.
- ^ "Come to the Cabaret Here, Old Chum". The Age. Melbourne. 21 June 2006. Retrieved 6 May 2008.
- ^ Sheldrick, Drew (20 December 2010). "Butterfly Club changes hands". The Star Observer.
- ^ "The Butterfly Club changes hands". ArtsHub Australia. 21 December 2010.
- ^ de Jonk, Travis (20 December 2010). "New owners for Butterfly Club". Same Same.
- ^ Bennett, Sally (10 January 2011). "Butterfly Club spreads wings". The Herald Sun. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
- ^ "Butterfly Club floats to new venue, with a little help from its friends". The Age. Melbourne.
- ^ "After metamorphosis, Butterfly Club retains its artistic flair". The Age. Melbourne.
- ^ "Melbourne Fringe drops the Butterfly Club over allegations of verbal abuse and threatening behaviour". The Guardian. Melbourne.