Townsville has earned a reputation across Northern Australia as a vibrant hub for some of the nation’s finest arts groups, festivals, exhibitions, and events. Despite this, the industry is still facing significant hurdles. So, what investments are needed to further cultivate economic prosperity through regional arts?
When actors and arts advocates Terri Brabon and Brendan O’Connor returned to Townsville in 2010 to ensure the continuation of the annual Shakespeare Under the Stars, they were driven by two core beliefs: that theatre is important to a regional community, and that the arts contributes substantially to the local economy.
Fast forward a decade, and they have not only founded a premier theatre company, TheatreiNQ, that produces four productions annually, but has also mentored over 71 acting students and 11 technical students through their training program, The Bridge Project.
Since its establishment in 2012, The Bridge Project has helped a significant number of its students gain admission into some of the nation’s most prestigious acting schools, including the likes of the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) and the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA).
Earlier this year, Terri was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for her commitment to regional theatre, and while they have amassed a loyal following and consistently enjoy sell out seasons, she says keeping their doors open remains increasingly challenging.
“People forget that we are run as a business,” says Terri. “Like other businesses in the region, we have ever-increasing rental and legal costs, infrastructure, and insurances.
“Currently, we are leasing a medium-sized commercial property, so our main expense is rent. As a theatre company, we need both a space to create and a space to present, so we are currently working out ways for our space to cover both.”
The company continues to receive vital funding from the Townsville City Council, which includes a recent annual allocation of $50,000 for the next three years to cover the expenses related to their premises. However, TheatreiNQ continues to be denied organisational funding from Arts Queensland, and Terri highlights the disparities in funding allocation between regional and metropolitan arts organisations, most notably in the latest funding round, where only 12.9% was allocated to regional arts initiatives.
“Regional talent resources are always drained to the southeast corner because that is where the money is,” says Terri, who notes TheatreiNQ currently employs two full-time and two part-time staff members, as well as various short-term contracts on their productions.
“We spend years training emerging young talent through The Bridge Project, only to lose them when they finally get good enough to employ, simply because we can’t afford to keep them here.
“If more money was spent on funding artists in the regions, we would be in the position to employ that talent more regularly and hopefully keep them here in North Queensland, performing for the very community that supported their development in the first place.”
It’s no secret that the arts, culture, and creative industries contribute significantly to the local economy. A recent Townsville Enterprise study found that Townsville locals, and those travelling to the events capital
of the North, have a strong desire to attend more events that capture the unique sense of culture, people and place of Townsville, with 69% of those surveyed indicating an interest to attend lifestyle, arts and culture events.
In 2023, The North Australian Festival of Arts (NAFA) drew over 52,000 attendees across the 24-day
event and saw a multiplied economic impact of $17.9 million. In Townsville alone, the direct impact amounted to $5.9 million, with out-of-town visitors spending up at local retail shops, restaurants, and hotels.
Similarly, the Australian Festival of Chamber Music (AFCM), which was born in Townsville three decades ago, continues to be a key economic driver in the region every year.
The total spending associated with the AFCM in Queensland amounted to $9.32 million in 2023 and saw a return of $3.28 million in the state. Notably, 80% of this economic impact was felt in the Townsville region.
Yet, arts organisations like AFCM are also facing challenges with financial constraints and the need for adequate infrastructure, which Executive Director Ricardo Peach says is vital to sustaining their growth, particularly amidst the current cost-of-living crisis.
“Organisations like ours undergo cycles,” says Ricardo. “We receive a set amount of government funding that isn’t indexed. As inflationary pressures persist, our costs rise, so arts industries need local busineses and the broader community to support us now more than ever.
“AFCM attracts many visitors not just from across Australia but also internationally. Infrastructure is essential for us and other local creative industries to ensure we can have a bigger piece of the pie
and bring artistic and cultural events all year round, which, of course, would have a flow-on effect for the economy.”
In the 2023/24 Townsville City Council budget, $45.7 million was assigned to community support programs, libraries, visual and performing arts, galleries, and events. Bolstering this, the Queensland Government allocated $50 million for a new concert hall, adding to the $100 million already granted from the Federal Government in 2021.
This pending construction, while promising, highlights ongoing debates about resource allocation and
the lack of performance venues for both amateur and professional organisations. However, it is a
good indicator that the city is being recognised Queensland-wide for the artistic talent that is being cultivated in the region.
Townsville City Councillor Ann-Maree Greaney says investment in arts and culture will remain a key priority for the council and notes their intent to leverage tourism opportunities presented by the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.
“The arts not only give a sense of community pride, but they work to solidify us as the events capital
of the north and play a key role in growing our economy,” says Ann-Maree.
“Through our Arts and Cultural Advisory Committee, we’re engaging with the State Government to outline our 10-year plan leading up to the Olympics.
“Our focus is on advocating and exploring opportunities to boost tourism and event offerings in North Queensland through the arts.”
“From local businesses to council to the broader community, everyone can not only be proud of it, but they can be part of it too.”
As Townsville Chamber of Commerce CEO Heidi Turner points out, cultural infrastructure and artistictalent does much more for our region than just attracting tourists. As skilled workers consider lifestyle factors beyond employment, the availability of cultural and artistic offerings becomes a decisive factor in choosing a location.
“When I moved here from London in 2008, I was stunned to come across organisations such as the Australian Festival of Chamber Music, Dancenorth and TheatreiNQ with nationally and internationally renowned performers, as well as the calibre of visual artists who could live anywhere and choose to live and create right ere and then exhibit at our local galleries,” says Heidi.
“With unemployment currently at an all-time low in Townsville and significant proposed projects on the horizon, attracting a skilled workforce is an essential piece of the jigsaw.
“Skilled workers have options so when they relocate from other parts of Australia and the world, the liveability of the region and the lifestyle their family will enjoy or endure plays a crucial role in their ultimate decision on where they choose to live.
“It’s not just about the job, they are thinking more as a family about the bigger picture, including schools, housing affordability, the cost of living, energy and insurance, and the quality of life in their potential new home.”
While Terri acknowledges the backing from Townsville City Council, she emphasises the need for increased support from the State and Federal Governments. In doing so, she is urging businesses and the wider community to consider ways they can support and strengthen the local arts industry.
“Our work is being compared with state-funded companies and we do it all on such a small budget; it’s incredible,” says Terri.
“The State Government and the Federal Government seem to still have a long way to go to see the arts in the regions as a professional industry.
“From our perspective, it’s about getting more people to lend their voice to show support at a state and federal level, including putting pressure on our local representatives to get behind our fight for more financial support from the state and federal funding bodies.
“Most arts organisations are open to customising corporate sponsorship packages, but the best way to support the local arts industry is to enjoy it. Come along, buy a ticket, and bring your friends.
“From local businesses to council to the broader community, everyone can not only be proud of it, but they can be part of it too.”
Main image: Alexandra Conunova and Julian Smiles in Townsville for the 2023 Australian Festival of Chamber Music.
Image credits: Main Image – Andrew Rankin, Bride Project – TheatreiNQ, Dancenorth – Amber Haines
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