Investment in the arts underpins Queensland’s recovery

The Palaszczuk Government is continuing to support the arts sector, with more than $90 million invested in today’s State Budget to help drive economic recovery and create jobs.

Minister for the Arts Leeanne Enoch said the Palaszczuk Government was continuing to invest in the state’s live music industry, cultural tourism, regional arts delivery and infrastructure.

“This significant investment in the arts will ensure Queensland emerges with strength to build back better than ever before, with a recovery that is fuelled by creativity and story-telling,” Minister Enoch said.

“The arts are key to delivering our plan for economic recovery, each year contributing $8.5 billion into the state’s economy and supporting more than 92,000 jobs for Queenslanders,” Minister Enoch said.

“That is why, through today’s Budget, we are continuing to provide vital support for the sector as the state continues to recover from the pandemic.

“We have amped up investment to Queensland’s live music industry, which we know has been impacted by the pandemic, with an extra $7 million in 2021-22.

“This funding will ensure the live music sector can continue to support Queensland talent and help to connect artists, audiences and communities across the state.”

Minister Enoch said the 2021-22 Budget also reaffirmed the Palaszczuk Government’s commitment to investing in key events that embraces cultural tourism.

“Queenslanders will continue engaging with the wonders of science with $9 million over the next three years to support the World Science Festival. As the only World Science Festival held outside of New York, this event has attracted audiences of more than 800,000 visitors in Brisbane, Toowoomba, Chinchilla, Townville and Mackay, and contributed more than $32 million to the Queensland economy.

“In addition, the Palaszczuk Government is providing another funding boost to help bring more exclusive, big-ticket, internationally-significant exhibitions to Queensland, with $6 million over three years  from 2022-23 in blockbuster funding for Queensland Art Gallery/Gallery of Modern Art. This is the funding that helped bring once-in-a-lifetime exhibitions to Queensland, such as the European Masterpieces from ‘The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.”

The Palaszczuk Government’s blockbuster investment, together with support from Tourism and Events Queensland, for exclusive exhibitions has generated more than $85 million in the economy since 2016.

“We are also providing ongoing support for arts and cultural experiences throughout regional Queensland,” Ms Enoch said.

“In the State Budget, we have allocated $6 million over four years from 2021-22 for the Regional Arts Services Network (RASN), which was established in 2018 as a new model in delivering arts services to empower arts and cultural experiences in regional communities.

“This network has provided employment opportunities for artists and is growing career pathways. Some of the signature cultural tourism projects that have emerged from this program includes Trailblazing the West in Western Queensland and the Savannah Way Art Trail in Far North Queensland, which are transforming their regions through public art.”

The 2021-22 Budget also acknowledges the important role of arts infrastructure in delivering arts experiences that engage both Queenslanders and visitors to the state.

“We are providing $36.1 million over four years from 2021-22 for critical infrastructure renewal and maintenance at the heritage-listed Queensland Cultural Centre, $3.4 million in 2021-22 for additional critical upgrades across the Cultural Centre, and $9.1 million over four years from 2021-22 for critical maintenance activities for the Queensland Museum Network in Brisbane, Townsville, Toowoomba and Ipswich.

“The Palaszczuk Government continues to invest in Queensland’s arts sector and cultural facilities, and is ensuring service delivery is enhanced across the state to support stability, drive recovery and connect Queensland’s communities.”

Arts budget highlights:

• $7 million in 2021-2022 for to support the sustainability of the state’s live music venues
• $9 million over three years from 2021-22 to enable the Queensland Museum Network to continue to host the World Science Festival
• $6 million over three years from 2022-23 for blockbuster funding to enable Queensland Art Gallery |Gallery of Modern Art to attract exclusive exhibitions to Queensland
• $6 million over four years from 2021-22 to support regional arts delivery across Queensland through the Regional Arts Services Network
• $36.1 million over four years from 2021-22 to address critical infrastructure renewal, and maintenance to ensure the continued preservation of the heritage-listed Queensland Cultural Centre (QCC), and a further $3.4 million in 2021-22 for essential upgrades across the QCC
• $9.1 million over four years from 2021-21 for critical maintenance activities for the Queensland Museum Network
• $13.125 million over four years from 2021-22 for the Arts Infrastructure Investment Fund to support priority infrastructure and revitalise existing state-owned arts and cultural facilities

ENDS

Media contact: Pam Frost 0437 859 987