Arts part of diverse and vibrant city
HOTA board chairman Professor Ned Pankhurst has a grand vision for the Gold Coast that goes beyond the arts and looks at making the broader economy more resilient to shocks like COVID-19
WITH ANN WASON MOORE
WHEN it comes to entertainment, this pandemic has been a literal showstopper. Empty theatres, shuttered box offices, forsaken stages … it’s been a bitter season for our own Home of the Arts.
But just as our borders have at last reopened, so too has HOTA … with the cultural precinct offering some of the hottest tickets in town this weekend.
While artists and organisers alike pray that we can soon call curtains on COVID-19, HOTA board chairman Professor Ned Pankhurst says the Evandale arts hub will play a critical role in the Gold Coast’s economic recovery.
And, in true Gold Coast style, Ned says the centre is ready for the limelight, with the program launch for its new $60 million gallery, part of the $280 million HOTA masterplan, just mere months away. “Incredibly, we have managed to stay on track in terms of construction throughout the pandemic,” says Ned, a research biologist who last year retired from his position as Senior Deputy ViceChancellor at Griffith University.
“The gallery is set to be completed this year and will open to the public in the first quarter of next year.
“But we’ve just about finalised our program of events, which will be released in October, and I think our city is going to be very excited by what we have planned.
“You’ll love it. And if you don’t love the first event, you’ll love the next … it’s a cliche, but there is going to be something for everybody. And some things that you will not be able to see anywhere else in the world.
“The gallery building and space is a tourist attraction in itself. It is a complete representation of this city.
“This is not a capital city gallery precinct. We very specifically did not want a reproduction of the Stalinist architecture of South Bank.
“This gallery has true Gold Coast character, it’s stimulating and stunning both inside and outside.
“We are a city unlike any other anywhere else in the world, yes we have the glitz and glamour – which we should be proud of – but there is so much more as well.
“Some may say the Gold Coast is superficial, but what I love is it’s never pretentious – that’s incredibly refreshing. We don’t have to apologise or compare ourselves to any other capital city, we can never be accused of copying anyone. We are not held to ransom by our history but have the freedom to write our future.”
While the future of the cultural precinct looks as bright as the city lights, Ned is still processing the previous grim months of 2020.
After taking the position of chairman of the board in June 2019, he says the past 14 months have been a baptism by fire.
“My first year was meant to be the transition year, after taking over from the extremely capable and creative Robyn Archer,” he says. “All was going smoothly, and then we had the hand grenade of
COVID-19. It’s blown up everyone and everything, but especially the creative arts.
“The sectors most affected by the pandemic are tourism, hospitality and events – and HOTA is at the intersection of all three.
“It’s been a very traumatic time for artists in particular, who at best could be classified as casual workers. There was no safety net for them when catastrophe struck. It’s been harder for them to access financial support and very uncertain as to when they can get back into business as usual. Or even how that would look.
“Of course they and we understand that doors had to be closed. At HOTA, our challenge was how to manage that period. How to provide whatever funding and programs that we could, and how to open our doors again as quickly and as safely as possible.
“It’s been a juggle of expectations and safety for our staff, for the artists and especially for the public who support us. But in some ways, COVID has enhanced our creative process because it has forced us to be more flexible and given us the freedom to think of things in a different way.”
With a background in science, a seat on the board of both HOTA and the Gold Coast Titans, as well as solid business acumen, Ned is something of a renaissance man.
In fact, he says part of the reason he agreed to take on this role at our arts hub was to continue his own education, as well as to use his experience to inform the continued development of the city’s cultural development.
“It’s often said the arts are the soul of a city, and that is true. But you need a vibrancy and robustness in the economy to support that. The fact is that arts and entertainment are considered discretionary spending, so when times are tough, that’s one of the first things to be cut.
“That’s why I believe it’s so important to get greater depth and breadth in our city’s economy, to be less dependent on tourism where the control is essentially in the hands of others. We need the economic resilience to cope during catastrophes.
“There is no doubt that the Gold Coast’s economy has matured, it’s progressed from just tourism and development to education and health – but now it’s time to take that further. We need to look to other cities which share our characteristics, lifestyle bases with great education facilities and with educated populations, and look at the industries they attract – like San Diego or Silicon Valley, for example.
“The Gold Coast should aggressively be trying to position itself as a place for innovations-based industries, such as biomedicine, science, IT and non-classical manufacturing. We have a place here where people want to come, where they want to grow their families, have their kids educated and to get good jobs here. To me, that last point is the only piece of the puzzle that’s missing … but we are getting there.
“We are on the cusp of some very exciting biotech companies coming to the Gold Coast, as well as medical research and we have increased our capacity for local production. In the next three to five years, there will be an eyeopening number of Gold Coast-based tech companies emerging. I know first-hand of a number of companies actively talking about this. We are reaching critical mass as a city.”
With three years left in his contract as chair of the HOTA board, Ned says he already has a firm version of where he would like to see the cultural precinct positioned. He says while its continued development is assured as part of the $280 million masterplan, his main concern is that the conversation about “what’s next” never ends. And for Ned, that means ensuring all of the city can access the jewel in its cultural crown.
“I don’t think we’ll ever be officially ‘finished’ in the development of the cultural precinct. Every piece we complete creates a platform for something more.
“I think what matters is that this conversation continues after our current mayor and councillors have stepped down. The level of co-operation we have had with the City has been amazing and my firm desire is that the conversation does not end, no matter who it is we’re talking to.
“I also think we’re at the point where we’re building this, and the people will want to come, but we need to make sure they can get here.
“Evandale is not necessarily the next link for the light rail but I do think we need to start thinking about the east-west links. We need a complete network, not just a north-south line.
“I arrived on the Gold Coast pre-light rail and the usage of public transportation then was less than 5 per cent. Now it’s at 15 per cent. And all of that increase is due to light rail, not increased bus usage. Light rail has trained people to use public transportation.
“When you talk about a city hitting maturity, you’re talking about a well-rounded economy, vibrant arts and culture, permanent professional sports teams and public transportation. The Gold Coast is actively working on ticking all of those boxes.”
There is little doubt that once all that is in place, this city will steal the spotlight.