It has been a disappointingly slow road to recovery for Norpa and while its had some artistic highs over the past year, it's definitely had some lows.
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The region's only full-time professional performing arts company is yet to move back into its spiritual home at City Hall.
While the company managed to save much of its technical equipment, its office and all its memorabilia was completely smashed in February's flood.
"Last year was shocking," Norpa's artistic director Julian Louis said.
"As a team, we did experience with our community, the shock and trauma of what happened last year.
"Last year was about survival as a company, How do we survive this? How do we heal? How do we play a role in the recovery?"
While Norpa was able show its versatility last year by putting on the highly successful Love for One Night at the Eltham Pub, the company would now dearly love to have a permanent home and rehearsal space to work from.
"We are not back to business as usual. We are not there yet," Mr Louis said.
"We are still connecting to artists in the region, and we are still connecting to Lismore and we have a role to play there.
"We are looking to put forward our program for the year which will be quite different from the Norpa we are used to and we will engage with the community in a very different way."
Norpa still doesn't know when and if its building at City Hall will reopen.
"We aren't defined by a venue and we are more than four walls," Mr Louis said.
"We are looking at our options and we are looking at Lismore City Council and what their vision for Lismore is and how Norpa can play a part in that.
"Lismore City Council need to drive reopening a venue that size.
"And there is no point building back the same, we need a smarter venue and a more versatile space and one that can deal with flooding if it happens and ensure we are not at risk.
"We need a plan and vision for that space."
Norpa will announce its program for 2023 in the coming weeks and there should be a few surprises within that in terms of venues and shows.
It is then hoping to consolidate its programs and home.
We aren't defined by a venue and we are more than four walls,
- Julian Louis
I'm a media professional with over 34 years of experience in public relations and journalism, including a decade setting Lismore's news agenda as the editor of The Northern Star. I have proven track record in growing audiences and improving engagement by delivering quality local stories for and about the Lismore community.
I'm a media professional with over 34 years of experience in public relations and journalism, including a decade setting Lismore's news agenda as the editor of The Northern Star. I have proven track record in growing audiences and improving engagement by delivering quality local stories for and about the Lismore community.
