Above: Queensland’s new Draft Master Plan for the Southbank cultural precinct envisages a new 30-storey hotel to help pay for the redevelopment. Image: Arts Queensland.
It was a banner day for Queensland’s Arts Minister, Ian Walker.
Walker had faced a baptism of fire on coming to the portfolio, taking over from disgraced Liberal-National minister Ros Bates, who quit after a lobbying scandal. Once in the job, Walker had implemented savage cuts to many Queensland cultural organisations. Devastating and controversial cuts to the small-to-medium sector had cut a swathe through some of Brisbane’s best known small arts organisations. In recent months, Youth Arts Queensland and Contact Inc have both ceased operations after three-decade histories.
