Welcome to our Canberra home in Acton, Australian Capital Territory. Visit our Canberra experiences page to learn more about our onsite café, public spaces and year-round program of screenings, exhibitions and events.
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The NFSA is open daily from 10am to 4pm except for Christmas Day (25 December) and New Year's Day (1 January).
The NFSA is also open outside these hours for advertised events.
The team from Church Neighbourhood Goods is providing a cafe and bar service at the NFSA in Acton, serving locally roasted Redbrick coffee. Open Monday to Friday 8.30am to 3pm and Saturday and Sunday 10am to 2pm. The cafe and bar is also open late for NFSA screenings and events.
Admission to the NFSA building is free. Tickets for events and exhibitions are available via the events calendar.
Join Club NFSA to get free entry to every seventh paid screening, event or exhibition. Request a Club NFSA card at Reception and have your card stamped each time you visit.
Your Club NFSA card is redeemable for regular screenings, events and paid exhibitions but excludes premium and third-party events.
NFSA Gift Vouchers are redeemable for any Arc Cinema or exhibition ticket purchased via our ticketing page.
Purchase your NFSA Gift Voucher
We're situated in the heart of Canberra on McCoy Circuit, Acton, between the shores of Lake Burley Griffin and the Australian National University.
Visit the ACT Government website for information about potential disruption to local traffic near the NFSA during the construction of the light rail to Woden.
Dedicated visitor parking is available on the NFSA premises between McCoy Circuit and Ellery Crescent (paid parking Monday to Friday, up to three hours). There are six accessible parking spaces across two car parks, both off McCoy Circuit.
There is also limited free street parking on Liversidge Street.
We recommend considering public transport in peak times.
There is a 15-minute free parking zone in front of the McCoy Circuit entrance for pick-ups and drop-offs. There is also a drop-off point on Liversidge Street.
Route 53 runs between Dickson Shops and the National Museum of Australia seven days a week (fewer services on weekends and public holidays). Alight at Liversidge Street (stop 3487) at the rear entrance to the NFSA.
All regular routes connect with at least two rapid routes to help customers making longer journeys.
Visit the Transport Canberra website for more information about public transport timetables.
The NFSA is a 15 to 20-minute walk from the Alinga Street light rail interchange in Canberra’s city centre.
Visit Transport Canberra for information on using the light rail.
Beam Mobility and Neuron Mobility operate shared e-scooters in Canberra.
The NFSA sits just outside the e-scooter geofence – visit the Transport Canberra website to access a shared e-scooters map and follow parking and safety instructions in the Beam and Neuron apps.
For after-hours events, the Liversidge Street entrance remains open until the start time of the event. To access the building via Liversidge Street after this time, please use the intercom at the door to contact Reception.
The McCoy Circuit entrance remains open for the duration of after-hours events.
All areas within the NFSA are wheelchair accessible.
Wheelchair access to the building is available via Liversidge Street. There are accessible parking spaces on both sides of the building, off McCoy Circuit (see below).
A wheelchair is available from Reception, which can be requested on arrival. To book the wheelchair in advance, call (02) 6248 2000 during business hours.
Area |
Measurements |
Liversidge Street building ramp |
The ramp varies in width; the average width is approximately 1.24 metres, while the narrowest point is approximately 1.00 metres wide. |
Distance from accessible parking |
The distance from accessible parking to the entrance on Liversidge Street is approximately
|
Accessible bathrooms are located on the McCoy Circuit side of the building, opposite the Theatrette, and on the Liversidge Street side of the building.
NFSA bathrooms are gendered.
Area |
Bathroom measurements |
Bathroom measurements |
Floor space |
5.03 square metres |
5.89 square metres |
Bathroom door |
0.84 metres wide |
0.91 metres wide |
Distance from toilet to nearest wall |
0.40 metres |
0.27 metres |
Distance from toilet to handrail |
0.31 metres |
0.17 meters |
There are T-Coil induction hearing loops available in Arc Cinema and the Theatrette. For further information about this service, please contact your Venue Hire Coordinator.
Lighting options are customisable for venue hire requirements.
Unfortunately, Braille guides are not currently available.
Assistance animals that are trained, registered and visibly identifiable are welcome at the NFSA when accompanied by their handler.
Access signage and wayfinding is provided at the McCoy Circuit and Liversidge Street entrances. Accessible parking is signed.
Universal access symbols are used on the NFSA website to identify accessible events.
Arc Cinema:
Theatrette:
There is a bathroom with changing facilities for parents and carers on the McCoy Circuit side of the building, opposite the Theatrette.
Water is available for guests in the NFSA cafe. There is also a water fountain located in the Courtyard, near the McCoy Circuit foyer doors.
Accessible versions of our Disability Inclusion Action Plan are available in the following formats:
Hard copy formats are also available to borrow from reception, or contact:
enquiries@nfsa.gov.au
+61 2 6248 2000
Toll free (within Australia): 1800 067 274
Information about COVID Smart behaviours is available from the ACT Government’s COVID-19 website.
To help us ensure the safety of all visitors, and to protect our displays and exhibitions from damage, please observe the following conditions of entry to the NFSA.
The National Film and Sound Archive of Australia acknowledges Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work and live and gives respect to their Elders both past and present.