TIME FOR A FRESH SET OF EYES AT ARTS HUB

THE addition of the Home of the Arts precinct to the city landscape was long-awaited, hard fought for and a welcome arrival. Equally, the opening of its art gallery housed inside its impressive centrepiece building, which has an awe-inspiring exterior capable of entertainment that brings a new level to the Gold Coast for events.

It is something the city craved – a premium, boundary-pushing arts precinct and creative space and is a credit to those who drove it.

But that still comes with accountability and the significance of a shakeup of the HOTA board should not be underestimated.

Arts-loving councillor Bob La Castra is to make way for fellow councillor Brooke Patterson, whose strengths are governance and finance data.

She has been added as an “observer” – translation: tighter accountability.

Or as it was put by Mayor Tom Tate, who has long championed the city arts and culture precinct as a key cornerstone of the Gold Coast evolution: “Bob has kindly offered to step aside now so we can focus on the financial and governance aspects moving forward.”

A review into a $500,000 blowout for bringing one of the world’s biggest private art exhibitions to the gallery has also identified a need for “better and more immediate communication” between HOTA’S board and the council.

Which is an intriguing finding given the board has had a seat occupied by a sitting councillor.

HOTA has been an impressive installation with abundant potential to help propel the Gold Coast of the future to another level. But with great opportunity comes great responsibility. Watch this space.