ARTS AND CULTURE ACTION PLAN SET TO ENRICH QUEENSLAND COMMUNITIES

Premier and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Anna Bligh
20/11/2009
ARTS AND CULTURE ACTION PLAN SET TO ENRICH QUEENSLAND COMMUNITIES
 
Premier and Arts Minister Anna Bligh today forecast a healthy future for Queensland culture with the launch of a statewide action plan to keep arts in the regions thriving.

"artbeat: Regional Arts and Culture Strategy 2010-2014 is important because it affects all Queenslanders who live in regional and remote areas.

"It commits the Government to working with regional communities, our partners in local and federal government and with arts organisations to achieve common goals.

"These goals include using arts and culture to build stronger communities and to give opportunities for people to take part in arts and culture.

"We listened to people in the regions to understand their needs, and they indicated a clear need for more professional development opportunities.

"artbeat will provide this through the Ignite Regional Professional Development Program and the new Regional Arts and Culture awards which gives professional development bursaries to volunteers."

Ms Bligh said the plan provided for an Arts and Cultural Policy Officer based in the Local Government Association of Queensland to strengthen the relationship between state and local governments and build networks.

The Premier said events such as this week's Regional Arts and Culture conference were a great opportunity for people to network and learn.

"I applaud the success of artspeak 2009: Queensland Regional Arts and Culture Conference (18-20 November) in bringing together nearly 200 attendees from across Queensland, and congratulate Arts Queensland and Scenic Rim Council for working together on this."

The Premier said artspeak built on the government's investment in the Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF), with 55 regional councils receiving $2.26 million in 2009-10.

For more information visit www.arts.qld.gov.au