Premier Anna Bligh has announced the Queensland Government will invest more than $227 million in the state’s arts sector in 2009–10, with a focus on generating jobs and skills development.
Ms Bligh said the budget included $4 million in Queensland government funding for the National Carriage Factory, a heritage training centre in Toowoomba.
“The National Carriage Factory, to be housed within Queensland Museum’s Cobb+Co Museum, will establish a training facility to help preserve the traditional heritage trades, crafts and skills, such as blacksmithing, lead-lighting and leather work,” Ms Bligh said.
“The National Carriage Factory, greatly valued by the Toowoomba community which has raised over $1.7 million to bring it to realisation, is due to open in 2010.
“The project will inject more than $7.3 million to the local community during its construction with around 50 jobs to be created and an expected employment impact of up to 280 jobs during its first year of operation.”
Ms Bligh said further jobs and a considerable economic boost would be created when filming commenced for the Queensland-based production of The Chronicles of Narnia – the Voyage of the Dawn Treader.
The Premier added that $2 million was allocated to the newly-annual Brisbane Festival, incorporating Riverfestival, bringing total state government investment to $5.3 million.
The state budget includes $126.5 million for the state’s flagship cultural institutions including the State Library of Queensland, Queensland Art Gallery, Queensland Museum, Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC), Queensland Theatre Company and the PFTC.
“Millions of people access the Queensland-wide services, resources, touring exhibitions and performances of these organisations, both online and in-person at the Cultural Centre with more than 3.5 million physical visits alone in the past 12 months,” Ms Bligh said.
Ms Bligh said the Cultural Centre’s continued success was boosted by recent and ongoing enhancements, all funded by the Queensland Government.
“The $34 million refurbishment for the Queensland Performing Arts Centre and the newly-renovated Queensland Art Gallery, now presenting the world-exclusive American Impressionism and Realism: A Landmark exhibition from the Met, are drawcards for visitors and tourism dollars,” she said.
Media contact: 07 32244500
16 June 2009
Other languages