Completed in late 2002, the Byron Community and Cultural Centre is a world-class venue in the heart of Byron Bay. A multi-purpose facility, the Centre hosts a great variety of activities including performing arts events, exhibitions, conferences, seminars, receptions and functions. It also accommodates the Northern Rivers Writers' Centre, Bay FM Community Radio, Adult Community Education (ACE), Planet Corroboree (an Aboriginal art and craft shop) and Fundamentals (a natural health store).

The Centre is owned and managed by the Byron Bay Community Association, a not-for-profit incorporated Association. It is almost entirely self-funded. The Centre plays a major community development function in the Byron shire. Over 20 years it has established many community services, helping create over 50 jobs and bringing in over $10 million to the local community.

Almost 100 years of film
The Byron Community and Cultural Centre which is the home of the BBFF has a long history in presenting film. Silent films were screened at what was then the Byron Bay School of Arts in 1910. The venue in its various guises continued to screen film to the late seventies. It is fitting that the new Byron Community and Cultural Centre on the old site is once again providing a venue for film.

In 1895 the first School of Arts was built in Byron Bay on land that now houses the Byron Community and Cultural Centre. In 1910 the Imperial Theatre Company screened silent films every Wednesday. Admission was One Shilling & 6 Pence for children. In 1913 the building's name was changed to The Byron Bay Literary Institute. On 2 September 1916 the Literary Institute took over the picture business which at the time was being conducted by a Mr Milgate.
In July 1931, the "talkies' were first shown at the Institute. Between 1930 and the early 1960's the records show that the picture business was very profitable. In 1954 a cinemascope system was installed but with the advent of TV, the picture business declined though movies were still screened twice a week until the late seventies.