'Local arts are lucky': Future of our artistic community

WHILE venues like the Empire Theatre remain closed until restrictions are lifted, one arts academic says their future is looking more positive than negative.

The Empire Theatre in Toowoomba

WHILE venues like the Empire Theatre and Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery remain closed until COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, one arts academic says their future is looking more positive than negative.

University of Southern Queensland School of Creative Arts Associate Professor Janet McDonald said across the country, the arts - whether that is art galleries, theatres, musicals, or any form of artistic expression - contributes $110 billion to the Australian economy.

"The local arts are lucky in Toowoomba," Prof McDonald said.

"The Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery is associated with council.

"Even though the Empire Theatre has its own board and committee it is still part of the council jewel in the crown of council's cultural manifestation in the Darling Downs.

"They're going to be okay."

The comments come after one of Australia's most iconic art venues, Carriageworks in Sydney, went into voluntary administration.

"I don't think that will happen here (to our venues)," Prof McDonald said.

"The little organisations like the Toowoomba Repertory Theatre, like the Arts Council, they have very minimal budgets, they really get by on their volunteer hours. They're likely to stay afloat."

Prof McDonald said COVID-19 had more so impacted individual sole trader operators in the art space and more support was needed to help them get through the crisis.

"You have to be optimistic," she said.

"This will end … and artists do tend to thrive in times of great constrictions."

Originally published as 'Local arts are lucky': Future of our artistic community