Page 4222 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 23 October 2019
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The innovative BAC management has ensured that the centre’s highly accessible creative and community programs continue strongly throughout the construction period, even making the most of a temporary internal wall as bonus exhibition space. The BAC has established itself as an essential and proactive arts organisation, offering a fantastic range of programs and events, including dance classes, art exhibitions, workshops and performances. The expansion of the centre will continue growing these creative opportunities for the Canberra community.
I can also advise the Assembly that deep and broad consultation has been taking place in relation to the development of the Kingston arts precinct with the local community and the arts community. This important urban renewal project and a new arts hub will integrate purpose-built arts facilities with existing heritage buildings and will feature new public spaces, accommodation for visiting artists, outdoor events facilities, commercial spaces, food and beverage offerings and residential and hotel accommodation to create an exciting new precinct for Canberra. The Kingston arts precinct is being delivered through a private sector partnership with construction scheduled for completion in 2023.
MR GUPTA: Minister, can you please update the Assembly on the progress of the territory’s next big arts infrastructure project, the new Canberra Theatre Centre?
MR RAMSAY: I thank Mr Gupta for the question. It was a delight to be present in the existing Canberra Theatre Centre earlier this week as we launched the 2020 season amongst the West Side Story set. I am pleased to advise that extensive consultation is now underway on creation of a full business case for a new theatre complex able to host a larger range of local, national and international events. Our current theatre has served the territory well but, at 54 years old, it is no longer meeting contemporary expectations of the audiences and of touring companies.
We have commenced the design and scoping for a new theatre centre that will have the seating capacity and the facilities to support large-scale national and international concerts, musicals, theatre and dance. The new theatre will ideally also include additional and more flexible spaces for live music and for experimental and local performances.
A new theatre complex will be able to make an even greater contribution to both the cultural vibrancy and the creative economy of Canberra by being able to accommodate a bigger and more diverse set of shows and drawing people from around the region to the capital to enjoy all that our beautiful city has to offer. With a solid plan for the right infrastructure to support Canberra’s artistic growth and ambitions, we are indeed truly building for a creative capital.
Mental health—youth facility
MR HANSON: My question is to the Minister for Mental Health. Minister, I refer to an ACT government infrastructure plan dated 2011-21 which was released by the then Chief Minister, Katy Gallagher. It stated that an adolescent and young adult mental health inpatient unit would be delivered within five years, that is by 2016. This
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