Year in Review 2014-15
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CHAIR’S MESSAGE LORD MAYOR’S MESSAGE In the 2014/2015 financial year, Brisbane I would like to take this opportunity Brisbane Powerhouse presented a diverse program to welcome David Conry as Chair, and City Council of festivals, free events and outstanding thank outgoing Chair, Justin O’Neill quality performing and visual arts. for his leadership and commitment is thrilled to This included IRL Digital Festival, which over the last ten years, five of which was an exciting exploration of what our he stood as Chair. I would also like to continue to work digital future might bring. thank the Brisbane Powerhouse Board, We are also pleased to support management and staff for their with Brisbane three biennial Australian Performing continued efforts and enthusiasm in Powerhouse, as Arts Markets (APAM) hosted by Brisbane guiding and growing one of our city’s Powerhouse. Our city has already seen cultural gems. we have since the positive economic and creative impact of the first APAM on the Brisbane its inception 15 arts community. years ago. We look GRAHAM QUIRK forward to the Lord Mayor of Brisbane venue’s ongoing success as the PHOTO WONDERLAND cornerstone of our new world city’s I am delighted to join Brisbane and abroad. We also launched IRL Digital creative culture. Brisbane Powerhouse at an exciting time in the Festival which took over the entire Powerhouse is organisation’s history. In our fifteenth year, building, and appealed to families and Brisbane Powerhouse continues to lead dedicated computer game lovers alike. the city’s lounge the way in presenting cutting edge art and This could only be possible through ideas, and inspiring audiences of all ages. the committed efforts of Brisbane room—it’s where It’s also incredibly strong in the diversity Powerhouse management and team, of its business, with excellent commercial including a great crew of casual staff and the good times activities, positioning us well for the next volunteers. I’d also like to acknowledge happen, the great fifteen years and beyond. We are pleased the Brisbane Powerhouse Board, who are to have appointed Fiona Maxwell as CEO, strong and supportive stewards of the stories are told and recognise the extraordinary legacy of organisation’s future. Noelene Galloway, as departing CEO. I extend thanks to Brisbane and everyone The Brisbane Powerhouse Board Powerhouse sponsors, donors, supporters would also like to recognise the significant and audiences for sharing our vision and keeps rearranging and passionate contribution of outgoing contributing to the creativity of Brisbane. the furniture. Chair, Justin O’Neill, who has been part Lastly, Brisbane Powerhouse’s of the organisation since its inception, success would not be possible without and Chair for the last five years. We look the support and vision of the Lord Mayor forward to continuing to have Justin as Graham Quirk and Brisbane City Council, part of our community. whom I thank for their continued support. The 2014/2015 program was punctuated with a series of festivals – comedy, cabaret, Queer arts, and the colourful new Wonderland Festival. These formed a smorgasbord of creative DAVID CONRY experiences, introducing new and old CHAIR PHOTO IRL: PLAYER ONE/PLAYER TWO BY STUDIO IMPRESSIONS audiences to artists from across Australia 2 / Year in Review 2014/2015 / Brisbane Powerhouse / 3 WELCOME OUR CULTURAL IMPACT TICKETED PERFORMANCES IN 2014/2015 894 INCOME 2014/2015 FREE EVENTS 286 VISUAL ARTS EXHIBITIONS 12 PHOTO KRANSKY SISTERS BY DYLAN EVANS NUMBER OF LOCAL ARTISTS 743 – or the equivalent of 10 symphony orchestras NUMBER OF EVENTS FEATURING NEW OR EMERGING ARTISTS 227 – or the equivalent of every character in Hamlet, 10 times over GRANTS $3,226,230 PHOTO CAROL LLOYD BY JOEL DEVEREAUX PRECINCT VISITORS 596,914 – or the INTEREST $92,283 equivalent of one in five Brisbane residents PROGRAM $2,598,370 COMMERCIAL SERVICES $3,919,145 SPONSORSHIP & DONATIONS $1,316,023 TOTAL $11,152,051 VALUE OF TICKETS SOLD EXPENDITURE 2014/2015 PHOTO BRISBANE COMEDY FESTIVAL 2012/13 $3.75m BY STUDIO IMPRESSIONS PHOTO FAKE TIL YOU MAKE IT BY RICHARD DAVENPORT 2014/2015 was a jam-packed program While our building is the extraordinary 2013/14 $4.5m Brisbane of 1180 performances reaching 142,000 hero of our story, it is our people who Powerhouse is ticket buying audiences. Just as significant tell and create that story each day. It is were the 454,000 other patrons who came the artists, audiences and arts community 2014/15 $4.86m an extraordinary to experience the precinct – the free across Brisbane, and further afield, programs, the Farmers Markets, great who are the heart of everything we do. place: the home dining and amazing functions. Brisbane We thank them for their ongoing Dollar Amount Powerhouse is not a hallowed ‘palace commitment to Brisbane Powerhouse. and heart of of fine art’, but rather something more Finally, we also need to extend our great creative tangible and real. It’s the city’s living room, deepest thanks to outgoing CEO Noelene AUDIENCE MEMBERS where everyone comes to hang out, to try Galloway, whose stewardship across experiences. something new and to enjoy being part of the last nine years has helped build the 2012/13 122,000 Brisbane’s creative present. international reputation of Brisbane MARKETING $706,570 Underpinning all of this is rigorous Powerhouse. We wish her all the best and ARTISTS FEES & SHOW COSTS $3,951,093 financial management and an expert team truly appreciate the tremendous legacy 2013/14 139,100 BUILDING MAINTENANCE $537,713 keeping the wheels turning. The financial she has left to us all. COMMERCIAL SERVICES $1,772,837 result for 2014/2015 was a stellar $670,000 ADMINISTRATION $2,009,634 surplus. We have been quick to reinvest 2014/15 145,000 COST OF FUNDRAISING $306,869 that in the business by putting money away THEATRE OPERATIONS $1,461,083 for long-term creative projects, significant capital improvements, and ensuring TOTAL $10,745,799 the organisation’s sustainability and FIONA MAXWELL KRIS STEWART Tickets Issued nimbleness for the future. Chief Executive Officer Artistic Director 4 / Year in Review 2014/2015 / Brisbane Powerhouse / 5 OUR VALUES OUR VALUES Festival, Brisbane’s new peak Festival for another audience, by collaborating for with local artists, and artists previously other in the city for the first time over a ten her series The Belonging Trilogy. We embrace digital and gaming culture. The Festival the first time with pop culture experts, associated with Brisbane, to collaborate day period in November 2014. • Choreographer Claire Marshall’s all creative took over the building from 7-17 May 2015 Supanova, to deliver a New Year’s Eve event on projects. After performing a Brisbane Brisbane author Matt Condon and Flaunt. This dance piece was with a largely free program that focussed to the cosplay community. New Year’s Geek Powerhouse premiere season, these musician Ed Kuepper are joining forces Marshall’s first at Brisbane disciplines and on the intersection of digital gaming with was designed to create an inviting, inclusive commissions are also able to tour nationally to create a new show which brings to Powerhouse after her 2010 show contemporary performance and visual and entertaining space for the gaming and afterwards, providing valuable revenue and life the infamous story of Queensland SlowDive. media, with art installation. The program gained cosplay community. branding opportunities. police force corruption during the Joh • Oscar Wilde’s De Profundis attention from many media outlets (e.g. Contemporary ideas and authors One great example of this in 2014/2015 Bjelke-Petersen era. The script and score created by David Fenton and four principles triple j) and audiences (families and the (including Annabel Crabb, Dave Eggers, was when acclaimed circus troupe, have been developed and the project is Brian Lucas. Both artists have uniting everything gaming community) and rough estimates of Mark Latham, Monica McInerney, Nick Company 2 (Brisbane), and dynamic new highly anticipated, given the potential had performances at Brisbane attendance recorded 20,000 people through Earls, Tim Cope and Thomas Keneally) dance theatre company, THE FARM (Gold audience appeal. Powerhouse in previous years. we do: the building during that period. were celebrated at a growing number Coast), came together for two weeks to Brisbane Powerhouse also launched The feedback from the sector regarding The program featured partnerships of events at Brisbane Powerhouse. explore how the melding of the circus and the SWEET! program in 2014/2015. This new the program has been very positive and with a number of key organisations as well Our Writers + Ideas program goes from dance forms could express the ANZAC program offers local independent artists the we are thrilled that all three new works as local artists – iam8bit (USA), SoundBytes strength to strength as we build and legacy. The companies formed a strong opportunity to premiere work almost ready delivered are moving into second iterations (Melbourne), Romeo Digital (Brisbane), develop this audience and also start to bond and are eager to continue work on for the stage. We supply rehearsal space, for further development and touring. Now. Here. This. Queensland Symphony Orchestra, cross-pollinate these events into the rest this piece. production and marketing services to help Electrofringe (Sydney), The Edge (Brisbane), of the program. The publishing world and Another creative development that realise the work as a complete production Brisbane Powerhouse is part of a vibrant, Analogue Digital (Queensland), The VR Club audiences are now turning to Brisbane flourished this year is the collaboration culminating in a two-week season in the immediate urban world that has never (Brisbane) and ROOM40 (Brisbane). A key Powerhouse for ongoing conversations between local theatre-makers Kat Henry, Visy Theatre.