QUEENSLAND PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE ANNUAL REPORT ...

Chief Executive’s overview
2011-2012 ANNUAL REPORT
In 2011-12, QPAC exceeded its visitation target of one million. While QPAC measures its success against a range of indicators,
none speak more powerfully to the relevance of our programming than the number of people who have chosen to come to the
Centre. The diversity of the program, which drew together the best of national and international commercial producers and
showcased Australian and international artists and companies in both contemporary and classic works, provided audiences
with a myriad of choices.
In presenting this program, QPAC worked with government, tertiary institutions, corporate supporters and community
organisations to ensure that its scope was both broad and deep. The program, which resonated so strongly with Queenslanders
and tourists, is the result of partnerships which have been developed over many years.
Working with all three levels of Government was demonstrated in the successful delivery of our Opera Australia season in
May-June 2012. A season of this scale is a mammoth undertaking for all parties, with Government support and facilitation
playing an essential role in the presentation. While the season was fi nancially supported by Events Queensland and Arts
Queensland, further support was provided by the Federal Government to ensure that a live simulcast of an Opera Australia
season would be broadcast to regional centres later this year. This broadcast will be received in venues owned and managed by
various Councils throughout the State.
While also a fi nancial supporter of QPAC endeavours, Griffi th University staff and students worked with QPAC by sharing
technical expertise and skills through 2011-12. In turn, QPAC provided low cost accommodation for a number of Griffi th
programs, presentation opportunities for students and support for Conservatorium. A highlight of shared learning experiences
for both organisations was the premiere live simulcast of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra in October, with Griffi th Film
School working alongside QPAC production teams.
QPAC has been especially fortunate in 2011-12 with QUT facilitating the appointment of our inaugural Scholar-in-Residence,
Adjunct Professor Dr Judith McLean. It was particularly fortuitous that QPAC was able to access her expertise and guidance
in the development of the curatorial framework underpinning the 2012 Out of the Box Festival, and the development and
delivery of the Connecting the Dots… symposium, focussed on engaging parents, teachers and educators in the importance of
arts education experiences for children.
QPAC works closely with its precinct partners, QAGOMA, the Queensland Museum and the State Library. In 2011-12, this
collaborative approach was evident in two major cross-precinct festivals, the Torres Strait Island Festival as well as Out of the
Box festival. The breadth of programming and exhibitions, lectures and workshops for these festivals drew on the expertise
and collections of each of Queensland’s major cultural institutions to provide visitors with rich and engaging experiences.
The twenty-fi rst century will be the Asian century. The importance of building relationships in the Asian performing arts and
entertainment sectors has been impressed upon QPAC staff and our board. QPAC is a major performing arts centre in the Asia-
Pacifi c region and it is important for us to continually learn and expand our awareness, understanding and experience of other
worlds and their histories and artists. Asia is a diverse, complex and nuanced region and there is no doubt it will take long
term and meaningful engagement for great partnerships and projects to be realised.
In 2011-12 QPAC lifted its focus on Asia and I was fortunate to travel to the region twice in 2012. In February, I visited Korea,
Japan and a number of cities in China to establish relationships with the major performing arts centres in those countries,
including the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) in Beijing. This trip was an invaluable exchange with the
cultural sector and its leaders in these distinctive parts of the world and also allowed me to raise their awareness about QPAC
and its achievements and reputation in a number of areas. One of the outcomes of this trip was that I was invited to attend
and present at the World Theatre Forum at the NCPA in Beijing in June. This was a great opportunity to meet more arts leaders
from Asia and the world, and further my understanding of the state and aspirations of China’s cultural industries.
Asia will increasingly become a focus for QPAC within its international agenda. I am particularly excited by the artistic,
commercial and educational opportunities greater engagement will create for our artists, professionals and communities as we
progress.
I credit this year’s outstanding successes to the expert guidance and advice from Henry Smerdon and the Board, together with
the creativity, diligence and passion of the QPAC team. I thank everyone for their support and efforts through 2011-12.
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