Queensland Elections: Lockout rally, more festivals promised, demand for greater investment

The Queensland state elections on November 25 could see some positive outcomes for the music and arts sectors.

The opposition Liberal National Party has promised a $9 million boost to Arts Queensland to deliver six initiatives over the next four financial years.

These include ArtsQ which will spend $4 million to bring together the creatives and administrators in the music and arts sectors with corporations, philanthropists and tourism executives at a summit to work out the best way for the small and medium creative sectors to move forward.

The $4 million Regional Arts Infrastructure Fund will upgrade state-owned venues in regional areas to encourage more touring and events.

The $1.5 million Arts Education Fund will go towards providing skills for artists including in finances, training for arts administrators and funds for professional organisations to provide internships.

The $1.5 million Arts Access Fund will encourage greater interaction between high profile musicians and artists to provide training workshops in regional communities.

The $3 million Animating Space Fund with help local organisations and councils bring live gigs and festivals arts installations and visual media events to cities.

This boost for the arts includes the $700,000 already announced for a pop-up Globe Theatre month-long trial in Brisbane.

Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls said, “I will deliver a new plan for the arts in Queensland that improves pathways for the next generation of artists and content creators, boosts vital infrastructure and makes arts more accessible across the state.”

There has been no visible concerted push by venues to use the election to challenge the lock-outs.

But the Queensland Greens have put them in the spotlight with a “call to arms”, asking live music fans to rally at 3am on November 25, and blast Twisted Sister’s ‘We’re Not Going to Take It’ at high volume

“If we can’t go to licensed venues, would the public prefer we take the Valley to the suburbs, I think not,’’ they posted on Facebook.

The post urged “all those who despise authoritarian rules designed to punish the group for the actions of the few, to carefully consider your vote in the upcoming election.”

The Brisbane Bartenders Network joined in, asking people to drop in for a drink and remember the jobs created for venue staff, brewers, wineries, and farmers.

The Queensland Chamber of Arts and Culture has asked all parties with candidates in the election to commit to increasing investment in the arts.

Its spokesperson Michael Lynch said, “We are calling on all political parties to work together to address this problem, regardless of the outcome of the state election.

“We understand it can’t be fixed overnight, but we need our arts industry leaders, including the Premier and Arts Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk and Shadow Arts Minister Tim Nicholls, to put a plan in place to bring the investment here at least up to parity with other states and territories, and create a level playing field for Queensland artists, arts organisations and the broader community”.

The Chamber pointed out that while the current Government had boosted arts investment in the past three years, data released in August 2017 by the Meeting of Cultural Ministers showed it was the lowest in Australia, and 23% of the national average.

This particularly hit young and regional creatives.

Lynch also pointed out that federal funding for Queensland artists was also low, quoting 12% from the Australia Council in 20156, which was a loss of $8 million.

He pointed out, “Arts and culture is a great investment for governments because of the economic multipliers and all the jobs it creates.

“Nationally the arts and creative industries are a bigger employer than mining so when we miss out on our share of federal investment it costing us in terms of jobs and opportunities in communities right across the state.

“We need a stronger base here locally if we are going to compete nationally.

For more demands from the Chamber, read more here.