The Newman Government is announcing major reforms to the sector at the landmark State of the Arts Forum, which continue to deliver the promise of providing Arts for all Queenslanders.  

Arts Minister Ros Bates said 2013 will be a watershed year, with an Arts Investment Advisory Board appointed to oversee a new funding framework.  

“We promised to streamline processes and make it easier for the arts community to access funding,” Ms Bates said.   “Our reforms of the grants structure mean artists and organisations will find it much easier to focus on their creative endeavours.

“The Queensland Government is fostering a commercially orientated approach to the arts, to ensure a strong and vibrant future.”  

The Arts Investment Advisory Board members include:

•Mark Fenton (Chair)
•Professor Sue Street
•Philip Bacon AM
•Scott Hutchinson
•Robin Levison
•David Thomas
•Dr Jane Wilson

The Board will advise the Minister on arts investment and policy, as well as strategic direction for the arts in Queensland.  

Minister Bates is also inviting the arts community to help shape the Arts for all Queenslanders strategy, with online consultation set to open this afternoon.  

To provide feedback on the strategy overview go to: www.arts.qld.gov.au or http://getinvolved.qld.gov.au  

A public memorial will be held next week to honour the life and career of Queensland great, Bille Brown AM, announced Arts Minister Ros Bates.

“The celebration of his life, This is the Stuff, will be open to the public and will take place on Monday 4 February 2013 at 4pm at the Playhouse, Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC),  in Brisbane,” Ms Bates said.

“The event will bring together colleagues, friends and family of the much-loved arts figure.

“Bille Brown AM was a celebrated actor and playwright who performed in the United Kingdom and the United States, working with some of the biggest names in the industry.

“But at the end of the day he still called Australia home performing regularly in Queensland Theatre Company productions and in local film and television shows.”

The actor passed away on Sunday 13 January in Brisbane.

This is the Stuff has been produced by QPAC and the Queensland Theatre Company.

It will include local and international artists in live dramatic and musical performances, audio visual presentations from colleagues including David Hare, Derek Jacobi, Carol Burns, Kate Foy and long-time friend and fellow actor Geoffrey Rush.

Admission to the memorial is free but seats are limited and need to be reserved through qtix on 136 246 or http://www.qtix.com.au/

Arts Minister Ros Bates today said it was business at usual at the Cultural Centre at South Bank with visitors welcome to attend the free attractions at the centre.

“Arts Queensland and staff from the Culture Centre organisations – Queensland Performing Arts Centre, State Library of Queensland, Queensland Art Gallery/Gallery of Modern Art and Queensland Museum - have been on alert over the weekend preparing for any need to move items to higher ground and to ensure the site is safe for visitors and staff alike.

“QPAC had to cancel The Illusionists on Sunday night and it has begun the process of providing refunds to ticket holders. It is looking forward to hosting Driving Miss Daisy from 3 February.

“To date the buildings at the Centre and their contents are safe and we will continue to be vigilant and monitor the situation through the State Disaster Coordination Centre.

“As a precautionary measure we have closed the Riverside car park under QPAC until close of business on Wednesday; however the other two car parks at the centre remain open.”

Ms Bates said there were some great attractions for people at the Centre, including the Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art at the Queensland Art Gallery/Gallery of Modern Art; Garage Gamers at the State Library of Queensland; and INVENTory at the Queensland Museum. All these are free with attractions for people of all ages.

Ms Bates said it was also business as usual at both The Railway Workshop Museum at Ipswich and Cobb+Co Museum in Toowoomba, with both open to visitors.

Ms Bates urged everyone to take care on the roads if travelling to the Cultural Centre and to be aware of all the latest flood updates via http://www.qld.gov.au/  Visit Arts Queensland’s Facebook and Twitter sites for updates as well as the institutions’ websites:

Queensland Art Gallery /Gallery of Modern Art: www.qag.qld.gov.au

Queensland Museum: http://www.southbank.qm.qld.gov.au/

Queensland Performing Arts Centre: www.qpac.com.au

State Library of Queensland: www.slq.qld.gov.au