Queensland Theatre Company rebuilds after the January 2011 Floods

The Queenland Government has provided important recovery funds to the Queensland Theatre Company (QTC) to help it get back on track following the 2011 Brisbane floods.

Like many organisations and individuals in Queensland, the QTC suffered a huge loss in the floods. Its performance studio, seating bank and artist facilities were extensively damaged, while a huge number of costumes, props and furniture were ruined by the 1.2 metre flood waters that inundated the Bille

Brown Studio (performance & rehearsal venue), public foyers, rehearsal Studio 2, kitchen facilities, carpark and storage areas.

However, as the flood waters subsided however, a sense of community was immediately born with staff and volunteers helping clear the building at 78 Montague Street QTC's home for the past 10 years - of mud and debris, salvaging whatever could be saved.

While QTC moved forward with critical acclaim for artistic direction, and commercial success for the Mainhouse program, the effects of the floods remain.

There is an ongoing impact on production costs, with the company devoid of their reservoir of resources to recycle. The situation has also substantially limited QTC's ability to support the many small to medium arts companies and independent artists to whom they regularly loan props and costumes, as part of QTC's leadership role in Queensland.

A $150,000 funding-match program, announced by the Queensland Government, will enable QTC to begin the renewal process in earnest; developing the central bank of props and costumes and staging infrastructure so needed.

The arrangement will see the Queensland Government matching funds raised by QTC to $150,000 - sending a strong message to advocates of arts and culture that QTC needs their support to realise this Government funding.

Explaining the funding, Queensland Arts Minister Ros Bates stated "40 years of furniture, props and costumes were destroyed (in the floods), at a cost of $651,000.

"The QTC originally received assistance under the Queensland Reconstruction Authority QRA, however, it was dealt another blow when the claim was found to be outside the QRA guidelines and the money had to be paid back.

"I've been working hard to find a way to help. It gives me great pleasure to announce that those efforts have been successful."

Arts Queensland will repay the $651,000 owed to QRA on a loan basis, to provide QTC with cash flow as it moves forward.

Minister Bates added "the 2013 season at QTC is already shaping up to be world class and we're proud to be a part of that, while fulfilling our promise of delivering arts to all Queenslanders."

29th November 2011 - QUEENSLAND THEATRE COMPANY ANNOUNCES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

18th January 2011 - BRISBANE BOUNCES BACK AFTER FLOODS 

17th January 2011 - QUEENSLAND: FLOODED ONE DAY, ALMOST PERFECT THE NEXT

12th January 2011 - FLOODS ENGULF QUEENSLAND FACILITIES