Art of the deal opens the door to much more
THE opening this week of the Pop Masters exhibition at HOTA has been years in the making and is the culmination of a dream which stretches back decades. Featuring the works of iconic artists Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat, among 70 pieces from the collection of Jose Mugrabi, the New York-based Israeli businessman, who is the world’s leading Warhol collector, it is without doubt a cultural coup for the Gold Coast.
Few would have believed a decade ago that this city, too often derided as a cultural desert, would host some of the world’s finest artwork.
Even in 2018, when Mayor Tom Tate first pitched the idea of luring a collection of top-shelf art to the city, it was viewed as a pipe dream.
Now it’s a reality.
The journey to this point hasn’t been easy – remember the $500,000 cost blowout in the contract negotiations to secure the exhibition.
It left councillors having to swallow the extra cost or face having to pay an even larger fee to back out of the contract.
The cost is high but the benefit could be even greater.
Cultural tourism is a growing economic force in Australia which has paid significant dividends for Tasmania and its Museum of Old and New Art (MONA).
If we make this a success it will boost the Gold Coast’s economy, its cultural cache and it will open the door to the city investing in further big ticket exhibits.
Our successful hosting of Queen in 2020 showed we could hold a major rock concert and led to more shows by Guns N Roses and Ed Sheeran’s upcoming gig.
Successfully hosting this exhibition puts us on the global stage and will hopefully lead to more in the future.
I just realised we had a balloon guy at my son’s birthday party. Now I’m wondering how much information those balloons gathered.
No Chinese balloons over Qld as nothing worth stealing since Palachuck & her gang took over.
All these UFO shoot downs are the Pentagon ramping up “Project Bluebeam” – a fake alien invasion ultimately intended to put all humanity under even tighter government control. Keith
With the price of beer that it is now it’s about time all glasses had a Plimsoll line. We all like a head on our beer, but how often is the head nearly 2 inches. We are not getting what we paid for. Barney
Tom you have just confirmed our thoughts that you have no idea about traffic on the GC – not a good look for a long term Mayor is it? Here’s a little exercise for you to do. Hop in your car & drive south for 20-25 mins & see how far you get. You won’t reach Coolangatta & you won’t reach the northern extremity of your council boundary either ..... & you live in the middle. What about your voters who don’t live in the middle. Traffic is a nightmare & light rail along the beach won’t help the majority!!!
Why would Cricket Australia take someone to India only to have him return home after a week due to the birth of a child is beyond me.. not only that but I believe there are at least 4 team members under injury clouds and have been for sometime prior to the team departure .. given the first Test debacle it’s hard to imagine any Tour success happening anytime soon.. Doug
A big thank you to Southport Uniting Church for hosting a stellar weekend piano concert by young Gold Coast local Oscar Wong. With entry just $20, Oscar performed a program of classical gems with wide appeal. His enthusiasm then presented concert goers with six unexpected, but much appreciated, encores. Oscar will again perform at the 23 Short Street venue on 7 May from 3pm, and then again on 6 August. On the program it read that Oscar “performs in many different venues, from renowned concert halls to hospital wards; anywhere people are willing to listen”. How lucky our community is to have such a gifted, and giving, talent.
So the Housing Minister Leeanne Enoch has promised 8000 new social houses in just 4 years. Tell her she’s dreaming. It amazes me how politicians make comments that are really voting bait. They give no thought to the costing. Borrow more money. This State is so deep in debt that I and my great grand children will never see a surplus. When and if they lose government the incoming government will criticise them for the debt they have left and the defeated government will critize the incumbent government for not trying to reduce the deficit. Don’t you love politics. Squizz.
Albo is this now the people smugglers new best friend. Jack
There’s a flood of asylum seekers coming or here being housed & Australian born bred can’t find a place to live.
What is wrong with our elected representatives? Do they feel so entitled that they can ignore the rules of decency? It seems every day some politician or mayor is caught out abusing their position of trust. Martin Oxenford
The last time a cyclone hit the Gold Coast was TC Zoe, a Cat 3, in March 1974. That was way back before global warming, so it seems global warming keeps the Gold Coast safe from cyclones. Better arc up the V8s and throw some steaks on the barbie, boys! We need that lovely carbon to keep the scary storms away. Beach Blonde
Housing on the Gold Coast is not constructed to the same standards as the cyclonic regions further north. If that applies to residential tower blocks, I would hate to live in one if the more severe cyclones described in a new report eventuate. Be like a line of dominoes falling along the coast.
Just read article re likely cyclone damage, I assume either gccc or qld gov paid for this, I always like the phrase “modelling shows” to me that means they haven’t got a clue but seeing as they are paying us lots of money, we will give them a report that is designed to scare the s** t out of everyone. I remember from my childhood, 60 years ago, Hennypenny running around saying the sky is going to fall, must tell the king, was she on the reporting panel? Rogerinburleigh.
Cyclists may have more rights on rds than motorists! Here’s a gravestone scripture somewhere in us! To make you all aware, but in my case It made me piss my self laughing! Here lies Michael o’day, who died maintaining his right of way. His way was right his will was strong but he died just as he had been wrong! So go ahead arrogant cyclist I’ve got time to wait till your arrogance lets me through! But than so have you! All the time in to eternity ! Happy motorists, happy to watch you undo your selves through your arrogance!
Re “US jets shoot down three mystery UFOs”. “Jittery Americans have been watching the skies” exactly as the military-governmentmedia industrial complex tells them to. It’s another government scam, folks, in a nearendless line of government scams. Never look at what they tell you to look at, look for what they don’t want you to see. Mr Obvious
Whoever suggested that Mr Chris-a-full-of-it was doing a great job must be living in La La land. All he ever does is moan but never suggests any alternatives. You will be a loooong time in Opposition at that rate, mate!
Oh dear! Seems a simple bush planted on Council verge before we bought property, has now become “the bush of death!” Apparently, unbeknown to us, it’s the talk of the town, that bush has caused the death of a puppy! WTF? (Nope, we’re animal carers here, we don’t do that!) Turns out some bored housewife in the street has pointed the finger wrongly in our direction, instead of rightfully pointing finger at poisonous bush lining the fence right next door! Yegods!
Albo’s pathetically woke ‘govt’ has not only given permanent resident status to the 19,000 illegal boat people. It has now allowed them to bring family to Australia! What a weak decision, and a brilliant green light to the people smugglers. Jolly Roger
Anne-Wason Moore’s opinion piece on issues around short term holiday homes, many of them unauthorised, makes some good points. A critical issue here, though, is that even with costly approvals, such use runs counter to good planning principles related to the amenity of residential communities. Approvals place potentially overcrowded, noisy, disruptive, partying, temporary, holiday makers amongst quiet permanent residents. Not a good recipe for harmonious relations and a pain in the arse for council officers who have to deal with complaints.
Re Ann Wason Moore article Airbnb & Council DA MCU fees $7-$9k+ when no extra demand on water or sewer services from that property. Seems like unnecessary bureaucracy & money grabbing, Pkwd
Re-Couran Cove services cut. Let’s change its name to Gilligan’s Island. Johnbrew
When I had a mortgage the interest rate was 7 per cent. But I didn’t have a large house with a pool and room for a pony. Barney
Chronic disease has increased over the last three decades because of fast food and screen addiction, but it has spiked through the ceiling since the Covid jabs were imposed on the whole population. Carole
Night time vista of Surfers and Broadbeach all the lights airconditioned units lifts no solar and generally no wind I truly believe we need a couple of NEW power stations. Geoff