QPAC to host VMA 'After Five' event

The Venue Management Association has announced that its latest 'After Five' event will be held at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) on Monday 21st February 2011.

The event will be held from 5.30pm to 7.30pm in QPAC's Function Room (enter via Cremorne Theatre entrance, Little Stanley Street - facing Brisbane River)

The event will hear from QPAC Chief Executive John Kotzas and QPAC Director Presenter Services Ross Cunningham, discussing how the venue is responding to the challenges of programming and building development.

Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) has a well-established and successful program of musicals and home company productions (Opera Queensland, Queensland Theatre Company, Queensland Symphony and Queensland Ballet). The challenges facing QPAC now are to ensure that this success continues while developing a broader and deeper audience through signature events, exclusive residences and other programming initiatives, whilst enhancing venue utilisation and revenue.

QPAC celebrated its twenty-fifth birthday in 2010; an era that has seen huge changes in the leisure market and massive growth in the South Bank precinct. While cultural programming will always be at the heart of QPAC's business, the building itself must adapt to the demands of 21st century culture and society. While keeping up with developments in theatre production methods and technology, performing arts centres must also become more open to the public and use their public spaces intelligently as places of both social interaction and revenue generation. QPAC's building masterplan seeks to remodel the twenty-five year old building as a gateway to entertainment precincts of South Bank and West End.

Speakers

John Kotzas has a distinguished career in the cultural sector, joining QPAC in 1989, undertaking various creative and directing roles both for QPAC and a number of significant national celebrations. In 1995 he played a key role in the Australia Remembers celebrations on behalf of the Australian Government and in 1996 he was the Managing Director of the inaugural Brisbane Festival. At QPAC he initiated the STAGE X Festival and consolidated QPAC's reputation as leader in the development and delivery of innovative work for young people. John led the team that developed the internationally-recognised Out of the Box Festival, one of the few arts events in the world that is focussed on three to eight year olds.

From 2003, Kotzas served as QPAC's Artistic Director and was instrumental in QPACâs recent successes as an investor in large scale musicals including The Phantom of the Opera and Chicago which opened in the newly refurbished Lyric Theatre in March 2009. His commitment to creative processes, learning and inclusion along with his extensive commercial experience have established John as an arts leader of international standing. He is a passionate advocate of cultural diversity and social justice. John has held positions with both state and national arts companies, and has served on numerous state and national boards.

Ross Cunningham has over 30 years experience in hospitality and venue management, eventing and live production. Ross has had senior executive roles at Arena Management, Tabcorp (Star City), Panthers World of Entertainment and Hoyts plus operational consulting in Australia and overseas, including his starting his own entertainment consultancy business - Ross Cunningham Consulting Pty Ltd.

Cunningham is currently Director, Presenter Services at QPAC; an executive position as Head of Programming and Production at Queensland's premier performing arts venue. Ross is also a board member of Australia's peak entertainment industry association, Live Performance Australia; Chairman of the Australian Helpmann Awards for the Live Performing Arts in Australia; and pro-bono Events/Entertainment advisor to the Australian Paralympic Committee.

Attendees must RSVP to email assist@vma.org.au

For more information go towww.vma.org.au

Image: Queensland Performing Arts Centre

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