Page 968 - Week 03 - Thursday, 21 March 2019
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in collaboration on projects that they wish to be able to support and that they wish their broader networks to be able to support.
MRS DUNNE: Minister, what other areas of ACT Health lack vital equipment, and are those areas relying on philanthropic efforts to provide that equipment?
MS FITZHARRIS: I know that right across our public health system we are always looking to improve and upgrade equipment. I note also that foundations raise funds for staff to undertake research projects and training and development. That is something I will continue to strongly support.
Enlighten festival—autumn festival activities
MS CHEYNE: My question is to the Minister for the Arts and Cultural Events. Minister, Canberrans have recently enjoyed a fantastic autumn festival season. Can you please update the Assembly on the success of the centrepiece of this season, the Enlighten festival?
MR RAMSAY: I thank Ms Cheyne for her question and also for her ongoing interest in and support for the wonderful cultural activities that we have across Canberra. I think that anyone who attended the recent Enlighten festival would agree that it was bigger and better than ever. With the theme of “Eat, see and explore”, there were certainly plenty of sights, sounds and tastes experienced.
Architectural projections and illuminated art installations could be found throughout the parliamentary triangle as well as at the Botanic Gardens, the Mint, the Glassworks, the National Zoo & Aquarium, the Sydney and Melbourne buildings and the ANU. The themes of the 50th anniversary of the moon landing, the 50th anniversary of gay law reform commencing in Australia and the International Year of the Periodic Table were all celebrated throughout the program.
This year it was great to see a high proportion of local artists and performers participating in the Enlighten entertainment program, with 90 per cent local content. The Night Noodle Markets were a huge success and achieved a record on the Saturday night over the long weekend with over 25,000 people attending. I note that that is indeed a lot of noodles! Over 2,000 people attended the Lights! Canberra! Action! short film competition showcasing rising talent from the local film industry.
The festival season ended with a great exclamation mark with the annual Canberra institution of SkyFire. We saw over 100,000 people line the shores of Lake Burley Griffin to enjoy one of the finest fireworks displays in Australia set to a spectacular 20-minute soundtrack.
Now in its ninth year, the Enlighten festival has evolved into a world-class event which captures the culture, the creativity and the innovation of our city. Final attendee numbers are still being calculated but crowd numbers were certainly high and I am sure that we will be topping the 320,000 visitor numbers who attended last year. It was indeed a stunning centrepiece for Canberra’s autumn festival season.
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