Page 1713 - Week 06 - Thursday, 3 June 2021
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Gungahlin. But we are getting on with the work and investing in the budget in making sure that we can facilitate access to the brand new school in Kenny, because we are committed to providing that safe access and good school education to all young people.
Arts—Gungahlin
MR BRADDOCK: My question is for the Minister for the Arts. The Gungahlin arts program was very welcomed and is coming to an end this financial year. In the absence of an arts centre based in Gungahlin, what will be available to assist Gungahlin artists going forward?
MS CHEYNE: I thank Mr Braddock for the question. A little bit of background to this before I get to the substantive point of the question, if I may; what Mr Braddock is referring to are pop-up arts activities and events in Woden and Gungahlin. They were announced as part of a new funding package in the 2017-18 budget. They provided collaborative opportunities for an artistically active and connected community to engage and participate throughout the 2019-20 and 2021 years. They have been incredibly well received, including very recently with the Celebrate Gungahlin Festival. I note that Mr Braddock wrote to my office about his thanks for the festival and how well coordinated it had been.
Consultation on the future of pop-up arts activities and events for Woden and Gungahlin is ongoing. Both the Belconnen and the Tuggeranong arts centres that administer these have established an advisory group to provide information and strategic advice. artsACT is preparing to review the outcome of the program as careful consideration will need to be given at the end of the three-year period.
The final report on this is due in December 2021, with an acquittal date of April 2022. I certainly understand that communities may have ongoing and high expectations of ongoing support. We very deeply value the impact these programs have had, but I simply cannot comment on the possible extension of this program while that review is underway.
MR BRADDOCK: Will there be space available in the Gungahlin multipurpose community centre for artists to create and display their works?
MS CHEYNE: All of that work is still subject to government decision, and that work particularly is being led by the Chief Minister.
MS CLAY: Minister, what plans are in place for long-term opportunities to support arts careers outside the year-to-year festival or one-off grant models?
MS CHEYNE: It is very important to note that the ACT government provides an incredibly wide and broad amount of arts funding to Gungahlin and to Tuggeranong, but right across the community. There are many funding opportunities that are available to artists—one is AMPitUP, which we have recently been discussing and about which I will have more to say hopefully later this month.
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