AQ034 Cultural Policy.qxd - Arts Queensland

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The Cultural Context The priorities of the Queensland Government include Community engagement and a better quality of life, More Jobs for Queensland - Skills and Innovation - The Smart State, and Building Queensland regions. Environmental influences present challenges and opportunities to achieve these priorities. By responding effectively to these influences, arts and culture can create opportunities to improve quality of life, social equity and economic independence. There are a number of factors which will influence the nature and direction of the Government’s future investment in arts and cultural activity, including: • Broad social trends, such as changing family and household structures, and the drift of the population to urban and coastal centres; • Globalisation and the need to retain Queensland’s unique physical, social and cultural environment, its diverse communities and the lifestyles of its people; • Ageing of the population coupled with a strong youth market; • Increasing contribution of tourism to Queensland’s economic growth; • The way information is shared and accessed as a result of the digital revolution; • A rapid increase in new communication channels, such as the Internet, DVDs and Pay TV, leading to demand for new local content; • Emergence of the “knowledge” economy and the rising importance of creative industries to the State’s economy; and • Growing pressure on cultural organisations to diversify their revenue base and respond to changing community demand, increased competition and audience expectations. Liza Lim’s Moon Spirit Feasting with the ELISION Contemporary Music Ensemble. Photo courtesy of ELISION. These factors pose challenges to the quality of life of many Queenslanders. An investment in culture and the arts is one way the Government can foster an environment where these challenges can be turned into opportunities. Changing Social Fabric The social fabric of Queensland and Australian households is changing. It is predicted there will be a decline in the average size of Australian households, an increase in children living with only one parent and an increase in people living alone 1 . Queensland has experienced a 10-year average employment growth of 2.7 per cent, 0.8 per cent higher than the national average 2 . Queensland is the fastest growing State in Australia and the most decentralised mainland State with almost 35 per cent of Queenslanders living outside the South- East Queensland area 3 . A number of rural areas are experiencing declining populations 4 . Queensland’s geographic dispersion poses difficulties in delivering equitable access to services and infrastructure. Declining birth rates are resulting in an ageing population and over time, may lead to a contracting workforce 5 . 1 Australian Bureau of Statistics, Household and Family Projections, Australia, 1996-2021 2 Australian Bureau of Statistics, Labour Force, Australia 3 Australian Bureau of Statistics, Brisbane and Moreton Statistical Divisions, Estimated Resident Population 2001 4 Priorities in Progress 2000-01, Queensland Government 5 Australian Bureau of Statistics, Population Projections Australia 1999-2101 MILESTONES IN QUEENSLAND’S CULTURAL HISTORY 1918 Cooktown Wuuringu painter Joe Rootsey born. His first solo show in Brisbane in 1958 saw him acclaimed as the ‘second Namatjira’. He was the first Indigenous painter promoted by the Queensland Government through the Department of Native Affairs’ Aboriginal Creations Gallery. 1920 Dick Roughsey born. The Mornington Island painter who was taught by Percy Tresize introduced millions of children around the world to the creation myths and legends of the Aborigines of Cape York Peninsula. 1921 First Queensland radio broadcast of a concert from the Savoy Theatre, Clayfield. 1923 John Oxley Library established. 1924 Winter Garden opens in Queen Street designed by 8 Creative Queensland Queensland Government Cultural Policy 2002 Ballantyne and Hare; it was one of Australia’s earliest large capacity picture palaces and was fully air-conditioned. 1924 First Queensland poetry Anthology, A Book of Queensland Verse, by J.J.Stable and A.E.M.Kirkwood is published in celebration of the Centenary of settlement. 1925 Brisbane Repertory Theatre, now known as La Boite, is formed. 1925 Warwick-born Charles Chauvel returns from Hollywood to make his silent film the Moth of Moonbi beginning a 34-year career as producer and director; to become the father of Australia cinema (d.1959). 1928 Bundaberg’s Bert Hinkler completes first solo flight from England to Australia. 1929 The lavish Regent Theatre (now Hoyts Regent) opened in Queen Street accommodating more than 2,500 patrons. 1930 Brisbane City Hall built including Daphne Mayo’s public artwork The Progress of Civilisation in the State of Queensland. 1930 Brisbane’s first commercial radio stations, 4BC and 4BK, go to air. 31184 ▼
The Cultural Context Continued These trends affirm: • the importance of building social cohesion and a sense of belonging and connectedness through participation in arts and cultural activity and access to local and family history collections; • the need to promote equitable access to this activity; • the value of creating jobs in the arts and cultural sector; and • the challenge of delivering infrastructure and services to Queensland’s dispersed communities. Building Queensland Regions Changing economies, populations and access to services are challenging the social and economic wellbeing of some Queensland regions, while posing opportunities for others. Arts and cultural activity provide one means of addressing these challenges. Craig Koomeeta of Aurukun, Freshwater Crocodile 2001, Cast aluminium. Courtesy of the artist and Andrew Baker Art Dealer, Brisbane. Photo courtesy of Urban Art Projects. Support for cultural traditions and heritage, celebrating public festivals and creating and enjoying culturally exciting public places, builds social cohesion and a sense of belonging and improves the liveability of cities, towns, regions and remote communities. By developing and marketing the unique physical and cultural attractions and distinctive heritage and traditions of regions, Queensland can differentiate itself in the global tourism market, thereby boosting development in regional and remote communities. Central to boosting regional development is a commitment to building partnerships with regional communities and ensuring greater community participation in Government decision-making processes. Tourism Tourism provides a significant and growing economic contribution to Queensland’s economy. It contributes 6.4 per cent to Gross State Product and employs more than 151,300 people, equivalent to 9.3 per cent of all people employed in 1998-99 6 . Many tourists travel to seek out unique experiences as is evidenced by the burgeoning eco and cultural tourism markets. Government support to coastal and rural and remote Queensland communities is enabling these areas to build attractions which position them in the tourism market, while protecting cultural heritage unique to their area. This support will be increasingly important to counterbalance an eroding economic base in particular communities adversely affected by global competition and declining populations. Protecting and promoting the unique landscapes, cultural heritages and artistic and cultural traditions of Queensland regions will contribute to their regeneration and support the eco and cultural tourism markets. Globalisation Globalisation offers challenges to the cultural vitality and diversity of Queensland. Global technologies, businesses, communication networks and arts and cultural products threaten to “homogenise” our society. Global competitive pressures also threaten the economic base of Queensland towns and regions. However, globalisation also offers opportunities to market products and services internationally and to attract internationally mobile firms and workers. An investment in arts and cultural activity will be important to: • maintain the distinctiveness of Queensland’s culture, heritage and traditions; 6 Office of Economic and Statistical Research, Queensland Treasury 1930 Babette Ferguson (later Stephens) joins Brisbane Repertory Theatre and launches 40-year career as actor, director and administrator. 1932 Australian Broadcasting Commission founded. 1932 Bundaberg’s Molly De Gunst stars in the opera Aida in Sydney. 1934 Shakespearean actor John McCallum Jnr makes his acting debut at the Cremorne Theatre; develops career in the UK where he marries Googie Withers. 1935 Toowoomba Art Society formed and a space is set aside in the Town Hall for an art gallery. 1936 ABC establishes the Brisbane Symphony Orchestra. 1936 Brisbane Amateur Theatre and Twelfth Night Theatre established. 1937 Metro Cinema in Albert Street, Brisbane opens (later Albert cinema). 1938 First free municipal library established by the State Government in Townsville. 1938 Queensland’s first regional art gallery opened in Toowoomba. 1939 Australia at war. 1938-39 300 theatres operating throughout Queensland. Cinema has become the most popular form of mass entertainment and remains so until the advent of TV in 1959. 1940 Literary journal Meanjin begun in Brisbane, moving to Melbourne in 1945. 1940 Noel Coward, English dramatist and composer, entertains troops at Grovely military camp and performs at Red CrossConcertatHis Majesty’s Theatre. 68325 1940 Storey Bridge built in Brisbane linking Fortitude Valley with Kangaroo Point. 1941 Australian modernist artist Margaret Preston collects Queensland Aboriginal sculptures at Djarra, south of Cloncurry; attributed to Linda Craigie and Nora Nathan. Creative Queensland Queensland Government Cultural Policy 2002 9
Page 1 and 2: The Queensland Government Cultural
Page 3 and 4: Queensland’s arts and cultural co
Page 5 and 6: Contents From the Premier and Arts
Page 7 and 8: Introduction The Queensland Governm
Page 9 and 10: Introduction Continued A companion
Page 11: Strong Foundations Continued Queens
Page 15 and 16: The Cultural Context Continued Indi
Page 17 and 18: People Creative Queensland recognis
Page 19 and 20: Communities Queensland is the most
Page 21 and 22: Places, Collections and Traditions
Page 23 and 24: Places, Collections and Traditions
Page 25 and 26: Creative Enterprise Continued - bus
Page 27 and 28: Creative Enterprise Continued • C
Page 29 and 30: Glossary Continued Edward Koumans,
Page 31 and 32: Acknowledgements Poetry In order of

AQ034 Cultural Policy.qxd - Arts Queensland

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