QUEENSLANDERS FLOCK TO SOUTH BANK CULTURAL PRECINCT

The new Cultural Precinct at South Bank has proved a hit with Queenslanders with more than 566,000 visits recorded since the new Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA) and the State Library of Queensland opened late last year.

“This confirms the strong public support for the Beattie Government’s investment in this magnificent new precinct,” Arts Minister, Rod Welford said.

“On average more than 13,000 people have been visiting the site every day since the Gallery and the Library opened.

“The attendance figures recorded since 1 December show 141,215 visits to the Gallery of Modern Art and 124,251 visits to the Queensland Art Gallery.

“There have also been 39,633 visits to the Queensland Performing Arts Centre and 103,363 visits to the Queensland Museum.

“There have been 158,504 visits to the State Library since it opened on 25 November.”

Mr Welford said the Cultural Precinct in its own right was a great attraction and the quality of the exhibitions was world class.

“The Gallery’s 5^th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art has attracted enormous crowds and rave reviews,” he said

“The State Library’s opening exhibition, National Treasures from Australia’s Great Libraries, attracted 42,000 people during its six week visit to Queensland.

“And Ned Kelly’s helmet and Don Bradman’s cricket bat were huge drawcards.”

Mr Welford said the State Library’s next major exhibition, Sport and War, from the Australian War Memorial, which will open on 26 January was also likely to draw big crowds.

“This exhibition shows how sport and war have helped shape the Australian identity.”

Media contact: Greg Milne on 3235 4593 or 0417 791 336