New fund to increase touring concerts in Queensland

The Queensland Government has reported that regional touring concert audiences and performances have more than trebled in the past two years.

Queensland Arts Minister Ian Walker said the $2.6 million Playing Queensland Fund in the latest Queensland budget would produce even more performances for the regions this year, while growing tourism as people travel to see the concerts.

Minister Walker stated “we’re achieving more in the arts across the whole of the state ... developing and supporting vibrant regional arts communities (that) deliver jobs and income to people not just in the arts, but in hotels, restaurants and the associated industries that gain from regional tourism.

“We’re putting on the shows that people want to see, and they’re travelling and staying overnight to attend the performances.

“We’ve more than trebled the number of people attending regional touring concerts ... to more than 103,000 in 2013.

“We’ve also more than trebled the number of regional touring concerts from 180 in 2011 to 617 in 2013.

“That’s more than three times the number of performances and people who are seeing them in the regions.

For the Gold Coast, the Playing Queensland Fund has seen performances by Opera Queensland’s La Boheme, contemporary quintet Topology’s Share House, Shake & Stir Theatre Company’s 1984, and the Queensland Ballet’s Cinderella.

For more information go to www.arts.qld.gov.au/funding/tourfundguide.html