❓ A parliamentary question regarding the WA government's contribution to the summer arts festival season and its impact on the vibrancy and security of Perth, particularly Northbridge. The Minister's answer highlights the success and funding of Fringe World and Perth International Arts Festivals.
AnsweredQoN 45Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
SUMMER ARTS FESTIVAL S EASON — CENTRAL PERTH SECURITY
45. Mr A. KRSTICEVIC to the
Minister for Culture and the Arts:
Firstly, on behalf of the member for Alfred Cove I would like
to acknowledge the students from Santa Maria College in his electorate.
I read an article in the weekend media that highlighted the
success of the Fringe World Festival and how it is contributing to the feeling
of security in Northbridge. Can the minister please outline to the house what
is happening over this summer festival season, and how the government is
contributing to our increasingly vibrant culture and the arts sector?
45. Mr A. KRSTICEVIC to the
Minister for Culture and the Arts:
Firstly, on behalf of the member for Alfred Cove I would like
to acknowledge the students from Santa Maria College in his electorate.
I read an article in the weekend media that highlighted the
success of the Fringe World Festival and how it is contributing to the feeling
of security in Northbridge. Can the minister please outline to the house what
is happening over this summer festival season, and how the government is
contributing to our increasingly vibrant culture and the arts sector?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question. Indeed, the last month
has been an outstanding period for the arts in Western Australia, and more
particularly for the role and the contribution that the arts make to the
community of Perth and to the wider community in Western Australia. I am
referring to the contribution that has been made by two major festivals that
have been underway—the Fringe World Festival, which concluded last
weekend having commenced on 24 January, and the Perth International Arts
Festival, which concludes this coming weekend after its three-week season,
although, of course, its film festival will continue for another couple of
months.
Turning firstly to the Fringe World Festival, I understand
that over 370 000 people have attended the free and ticketed events during the
past month and all of the performances that have been presented. Last week was
the final week, and it concluded a period of a whole range of performances and
exhibitions—cabaret, comedy, theatre and musical performances, film and
visual art—in and around the city. From the government's point
of view, we have been pleased to contribute to the Fringe Festival and also the
Outer Fringe Festival with approximately $1.5 million provided through the
Department of Culture and the Arts, Lotterywest and also the Metropolitan
Redevelopment Authority. The festival was launched by the Premier in Russell
Square—the Pleasure Gardens as it has been known—on 23 January.
There were more than 450 free and ticketed performances at 60 traditional and
non-traditional venues, not just in the city of Perth, but also in the wider
metropolitan area, including Fremantle and Midland and in regional centres,
including Geraldton, Albany, Esperance and Bunbury as part of the Outer Fringe
Regional touring program.
Over $3.2 million has been taken at the box office, and I
also understand that more than 60 per cent of ticket purchasers in 2014 have
been experiencing the Fringe Festival for the first time. It is wonderful that
this festival is contributing to engaging people in the arts in the way that it
does.
It is pleasing that the Fringe World Festival has made the
decision to continue in the Urban Orchard for another two weeks. Its offerings
there, particularly the bar and food outlets and the silent disco, will remain
open until 9 March. Having visited the Urban Orchard with its current setup, I
can say that it is certainly a venue that I recommend visiting. It is wonderful
to see the amount of activity there. I commend all the staff, the volunteers
and the board of Artrage, which is the organisation that presents the Fringe
World Festival.
Turning to the Perth International Arts Festival, which is
long established, and is in its sixty-second year, it presents a very diverse
program of theatrical, dance and musical performances, visual arts and a range
of other public events including very large-scale events such as the opening
night at Langley Park. The public of Western Australia, through Lotterywest,
contributes about $7.5 million to the Perth festival programming, and what is
achieved with that money by the staff, the board and indeed the volunteers of
PIAF is really outstanding. I have been to a number of performances that were
certainly very memorable. I am sure that other members have done so as well.
The Perth Writers Festival and Chevron Festival Gardens are part of PIAF. The
Chevron Festival Gardens are at the WA Museum site, but it will not be able to
continue there indefinitely because we are building a new museum on that site.
However, it is a very effective and successful location at the moment. It was
very encouraging to see a substantial article in The West Australian last weekend that included, amongst others,
comments from Inspector Craig Parkin of the WA Police. He was very positive
about the contribution the arts has made to make Northbridge and the city
safer. He said —
''There is a different feel
within the city and you can just sense that when you're out and about
in the streets.''
That is a credit to everyone who has been involved in Fringe
World and PIAF.
It is wonderful to see the transformation of the Perth
Cultural Centre. When we came to government in 2008, for a number of years the
Perth Cultural Centre had been regarded as unsafe, particularly in hours of
darkness. There were an excessive number of assaults, the lighting was not good
and it had a very downgraded reputation. To go there now and to see the amount
of activity and vibrancy, the safe environment that exists for families and
children and for everybody who visits there is a great —
Mr P.B. Watson :
Are you writing a book?
Mr J.H.D. DAY :
This is something that it is well worth writing a book on.
Mr P.B. Watson :
Twenty minutes and two questions.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Albany, I know that you are an avid clock-watcher but question time
started at 10 past two. I call you to order for the first time.
Mr P.B. Watson interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Albany! Can you wind this up, please, minister.
Mr J.H.D. DAY : I
am not sure whether talking about the performance of the previous government is
becoming a bit of a sensitive issue for the member for Albany, but it is a
wonderful testament to see what has been achieved, with the contribution of
many people through the arts and all the cultural institutions around the
cultural centre, and through the Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority, in
making the cultural centre a very safe and vibrant part of the Perth CBD.
has been an outstanding period for the arts in Western Australia, and more
particularly for the role and the contribution that the arts make to the
community of Perth and to the wider community in Western Australia. I am
referring to the contribution that has been made by two major festivals that
have been underway—the Fringe World Festival, which concluded last
weekend having commenced on 24 January, and the Perth International Arts
Festival, which concludes this coming weekend after its three-week season,
although, of course, its film festival will continue for another couple of
months.
Turning firstly to the Fringe World Festival, I understand
that over 370 000 people have attended the free and ticketed events during the
past month and all of the performances that have been presented. Last week was
the final week, and it concluded a period of a whole range of performances and
exhibitions—cabaret, comedy, theatre and musical performances, film and
visual art—in and around the city. From the government's point
of view, we have been pleased to contribute to the Fringe Festival and also the
Outer Fringe Festival with approximately $1.5 million provided through the
Department of Culture and the Arts, Lotterywest and also the Metropolitan
Redevelopment Authority. The festival was launched by the Premier in Russell
Square—the Pleasure Gardens as it has been known—on 23 January.
There were more than 450 free and ticketed performances at 60 traditional and
non-traditional venues, not just in the city of Perth, but also in the wider
metropolitan area, including Fremantle and Midland and in regional centres,
including Geraldton, Albany, Esperance and Bunbury as part of the Outer Fringe
Regional touring program.
Over $3.2 million has been taken at the box office, and I
also understand that more than 60 per cent of ticket purchasers in 2014 have
been experiencing the Fringe Festival for the first time. It is wonderful that
this festival is contributing to engaging people in the arts in the way that it
does.
It is pleasing that the Fringe World Festival has made the
decision to continue in the Urban Orchard for another two weeks. Its offerings
there, particularly the bar and food outlets and the silent disco, will remain
open until 9 March. Having visited the Urban Orchard with its current setup, I
can say that it is certainly a venue that I recommend visiting. It is wonderful
to see the amount of activity there. I commend all the staff, the volunteers
and the board of Artrage, which is the organisation that presents the Fringe
World Festival.
Turning to the Perth International Arts Festival, which is
long established, and is in its sixty-second year, it presents a very diverse
program of theatrical, dance and musical performances, visual arts and a range
of other public events including very large-scale events such as the opening
night at Langley Park. The public of Western Australia, through Lotterywest,
contributes about $7.5 million to the Perth festival programming, and what is
achieved with that money by the staff, the board and indeed the volunteers of
PIAF is really outstanding. I have been to a number of performances that were
certainly very memorable. I am sure that other members have done so as well.
The Perth Writers Festival and Chevron Festival Gardens are part of PIAF. The
Chevron Festival Gardens are at the WA Museum site, but it will not be able to
continue there indefinitely because we are building a new museum on that site.
However, it is a very effective and successful location at the moment. It was
very encouraging to see a substantial article in The West Australian last weekend that included, amongst others,
comments from Inspector Craig Parkin of the WA Police. He was very positive
about the contribution the arts has made to make Northbridge and the city
safer. He said —
''There is a different feel
within the city and you can just sense that when you're out and about
in the streets.''
That is a credit to everyone who has been involved in Fringe
World and PIAF.
It is wonderful to see the transformation of the Perth
Cultural Centre. When we came to government in 2008, for a number of years the
Perth Cultural Centre had been regarded as unsafe, particularly in hours of
darkness. There were an excessive number of assaults, the lighting was not good
and it had a very downgraded reputation. To go there now and to see the amount
of activity and vibrancy, the safe environment that exists for families and
children and for everybody who visits there is a great —
Mr P.B. Watson :
Are you writing a book?
Mr J.H.D. DAY :
This is something that it is well worth writing a book on.
Mr P.B. Watson :
Twenty minutes and two questions.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Albany, I know that you are an avid clock-watcher but question time
started at 10 past two. I call you to order for the first time.
Mr P.B. Watson interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Albany! Can you wind this up, please, minister.
Mr J.H.D. DAY : I
am not sure whether talking about the performance of the previous government is
becoming a bit of a sensitive issue for the member for Albany, but it is a
wonderful testament to see what has been achieved, with the contribution of
many people through the arts and all the cultural institutions around the
cultural centre, and through the Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority, in
making the cultural centre a very safe and vibrant part of the Perth CBD.
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