Criena Gehrke handed reins of Arts Centre and Gold Coast Cultural Precinct

CRIENA Gehrke planned on being on the Gold Coast for a few months. Four years later she’s been handed the massive task of managing the biggest cultural transformation the city has ever seen.

Criena Gehrke has been appointed CEO/Director of The Arts Centre Gold Coast. Photo: David Clark

CRIENA Gehrke only planned on being on the Gold Coast for a few months.

Four years later she’s not only still here but been handed the massive task of managing the biggest cultural transformation the city has ever seen.

“I was just coming for nine months on a short-term contract,” said Gehrke, who was yesterday named as CEO/director of The Arts Centre Gold Coast, which will be renamed the Gold Coast Cultural Precinct as the multimillion-dollar cultural destination evolves at Bundall.

An artist’s impression of the Gold Coast Cultural Precinct’s concert lawn and stage, which is scheduled for completion ahead of next year’s Commonwealth Games.

“My husband remained in Melbourne and I had the (two) kids with me and like when good wives turn bad, I just said ‘I can’t come back, I love this city’.

“I was fortunate enough to be offered a (permanent) position with council and I’ve never gone back to Melbourne … we commuted between the two states for the last three years but (my husband) is finally here fulltime.

“Seriously, I never expected to fall in love with this city. Having grown up in Queensland, you can come here with some preconceived ideas but I just love this place. I really do.”

And who could blame her?

For while there’s the usual things to love about the Gold Coast — the beaches, the weather, the lifestyle — the arts-loving Gehrke also finds herself in a city on the cusp of a once-in-a-lifetime cultural evolution.

Arts Centre Gold Coast CEO/director Criena Gehrke: “I never expected to fall in love with this city.” Photo: David Clark

On a 16.9ha site and with a staged delivery over the next 10-15 years, the Gold Coast Cultural Precinct is destined to become the epicentre of the city’s arts, culture and creative enterprises. For starters, the $37 million first stage, including an outdoor amphitheatre, is set for completion before next year’s Commonwealth Games.

“The Cultural Precinct project is one of the most unique opportunities nationally or internationally,” said Gehrke, who starts at the Arts Centre on February 20 and replaces outgoing general manager Destry Puia.

“Quite boldly and with great excitement, this city has said ‘We’re going to invest in all this (cultural) infrastructure in the near future’ … over the next 10 years, you’re going to see all these great venues come online.”

Raised by culturally minded parents at Redcliffe, Gehrke’s passion for the arts saw her pursue the early part of her career in Brisbane before spending more than a decade in Victoria.

The hugely popular Miami Marketta is just one example of the Gold Coast’s recently evolving cultural scene. Photo: Jerad Williams

She returned to Queensland in 2013 to develop the City of Gold Coast’s Culture Strategy 2023 before staying on as executive co-ordinator of its arts and culture unit.

“It’s been this incredible journey of really getting to know the city over the last four years and I have to say it’s like nowhere else nationally,” Gehrke said.

“I adopt a very broad definition of culture. You see it in the cafe culture and bars that are opening, in the music scene that’s emerging, in the arts companies and galleries that are popping up, at the (Miami) Marketta and (Helensvale) NightQuarter.

“When I first came here four years ago, people really wanted to talk about ‘What is the new Gold Coast? How do we uncover what the Gold Coast is?’ but I think there’s a maturity where the city is settling into itself and saying ‘This is who we are’.”