Save the Hopgood campaigners out in force to save struggling theatre
The southern arts community is rallying again to save a local theatre. It says bookings have dropped to their lowest levels in nearly 30 years because of future funding insecurity.
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Bookings at the embattled Hopgood Theatre have dropped to their lowest levels in nearly 30 years, the Save the Hopgood Theatre group says.
The group, which has been battling the State Government for nearly two years, is rallying again outside the Noarlunga Centre theatre tonight.
The rally is calling for financial support to be guaranteed indefinitely.
Group spokesman Don Chapman said uncertainty about the theatre’s future meant the Hopgood could no longer book international, national and state tours.
“This year, as a consequence of the State Government threatening the future of funding for the theatre, bookings at the Hopgood have dropped to their lowest level in nearly 30 years,” Mr Chapman said.
“One major casualty of this ‘drip funding’ has been the fact that the Southern Children’s Festival, run by Country Arts SA in collaboration with AnglicareSA, was unfortunately cancelled for this year and the funding uncertainty could mean the loss of the festival altogether.”
In November, the State Government agreed to a third “final” funding extension of up to $100,000 to keep the theatre’s doors open in 2020.
The State Government revealed in its 2018 budget that it would no longer back the community theatre.
Onkaparinga Council, Reynell state Labor MP Katrine Hildyard and the southern arts community have been fighting the decision ever since.
In addition, 14 professional performances attracted 6000 children, while at least 25 community dance schools put on their annual shows there.
The theatre costs about $200,000 a year to run and has been managed by Country Arts SA since 2008.
Country Arts SA chief executive Anthony Peluso was unable to confirm if bookings had dropped to their lowest level but said the January to March period was traditionally a quiet time for the theatre.
“The continuing growth of the Adelaide Fringe and Festival season and the fact that schools are only starting to resume their schedules are the main factors,” Mr Peluso said.
He said Country Arts SA was continuing to negotiate with the State Government and Onkaparinga Council about the future of the theatre.
Mayor Erin Thompson said the Hopgood Theatre played “a pivotal role in supporting the arts in Onkaparinga and the broader Fleurieu region”.
“We’ve been in discussion with relevant state ministers regarding its future as well as ways we can work together to increase investment and activation in the TAFE SA Noarlunga Campus,” Ms Thompson said.
Those meetings had included discussions, late last year, with Premier Steven Marshall and the Education Minister, John Gardner.
Mr Gardner told The Messenger discussions were continuing between Country Arts SA, TAFE SA and Onkaparinga Council to find “a sustainable operating solution”.
“We have provided an extension of funding for 2020, giving the theatre and local schools certainty that the events they have organised for this year can go ahead as planned,” Mr Gardner said.