That sure is a lot of money.
Labor have pledged $80.6 million to nurture the arts and establish ‘Creative Victoria’ in a grand pre-election gesture.
“Creative Victoria will provide an overarching organisation for all arts and creative industries in Victoria with a primary focus on growing jobs and promoting links, skills development, innovation and ideas among them,” Mr Brumby said. “Under Creative Victoria, cultural organisations and industries currently overseen by Arts Victoria and those relating to screen, digital games and design that reside with the Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development will be brought under the one banner.”
They’ve pledged money for MIFF, FreeZa, pop-up stores, The Comedy Festival, Fashion Week, Fringe and more.
Key initiatives under the Brumby Labor Government’s Arts and Creative Industries Policy include:
• $30 million for Stage 2 of the Geelong Performing Arts Centre redevelopment;
• $4 million to boost the Melbourne International Comedy Festival;
• $2 million to expand audiences for the Melbourne International Film Festival;
• $24.7 million music industry package, including $12 million for Australian Music HQ, $10 million for Victoria Rocks and $2.7 million for FReeZACentral;
• $13 million for a state-of-the-art new home for Circus Oz in Collingwood;
• $1 million to develop a business case for a new National Centre for Fashion & Design;
• $2 million for ‘pop-up’ designer stores for emerging designers across Victoria;
• $1 million to expand the L’Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival in 2011 and support the Decades of Fashion retrospective to celebrate the festival’s 15th Anniversary;
• $100,000 to support the 2011 Melbourne Spring Fashion Week;
• $200,000 for an annual program of inbound fashion buyer visits; and
• $500,000 for a new Melbourne Fringe Festival small grants scheme.
That’s a lot of money. Keep it in mind when you head to the polls this weekend!
