Super Star Fund to bring film icon to Queensland

Published Wednesday, 12 November, 2014 at 03:31 PM

Minister for Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts
The Honourable Ian Walker

Queensland’s reputation as an arts and cultural hub is set to soar with the news that the Super Star Fund will bring international film icon David Lynch to Brisbane’s Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) in 2015.

Arts Minister Ian Walker said Mr Lynch would host a range of special programs and activities to complement the exhibition David Lynch: Between Two Worlds, exclusive to GOMA 14 March–7 June.

“This is yet another boon for the arts in Queensland and it’s great to see the Super Star Fund achieving its aim of bringing the best of the best in the arts to Queensland,” Mr Walker said.

“Super Star projects give Queenslanders the rare opportunity to experience international stars and their work and create a massive drawcard for interstate visitors.

“Cultural tourists stay longer and spend more, and projects such as this are magnets for people interested in a different artistic point of view.

“This project will see Mr Lynch attend the exhibition next year, take part in an artist-in-conversation event, and host an artist master class where he will share his career experience with film and art students, artists and filmmakers.

“The artist master class will be broadcast live via the QAGOMA web channel to ensure regional audiences also have access to this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

David Lynch is a cult figure best-known for Eraserhead and Blue Velvet and as co-creator of the Twin Peaks television series which is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2014. David Lynch: Between Two Worlds is a 50-year retrospective, curated by GOMA, which will include paintings, photography and prints as well as a curated film program in GOMA’s Australian Cinémathèque.

“The Super Star Fund delivers on our Arts for All Queenslanders election promise and aims to achieve our commitment to growing cultural tourism,” Mr Walker said.

“We are making progress, but there is more to do and with our strong plan for the industry we will accomplish this.”

Tourism Minister Jann Stuckey said cultural tourism was a major contributor to the Queensland economy.

“This exhibition, supported by Tourism and Events Queensland, will be the largest survey of the work of David Lynch shown internationally and an important visitor drawcard for Queensland in 2015,” Ms Stuckey said.

“The Government’s 20-year plan for tourism, Destination Success, outlines the need to maximise cultural tourism opportunities and this exhibition forms part of our commitment to grow annual overnight visitor expenditure to $30 billion by 2020.”

[ENDS] 12 November 2014

Media Contact: Ian Walker: Monica Rostron 0409 126 332; Jann Stuckey: Jarrad Brevi 0439 291 268