Annual Report 2019 - 2020
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GEELONG PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE TRUST ANNUAL REPORT 2019 - 2020 ANNUAL REPORT Geelong Arts Centre Image Credit: Rory Gardiner CONTENTS CONTACT US Chair’s Foreword 3 Tel: 1300 251 200 81 Ryrie Street Chief Executive Officer’s Review 5 Geelong VIC 3220 Strategic Framework 6 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY At Geelong Arts Centre we acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which we In the Spotlight 7 are located, the Wadawurrung people of the Kulin Nation. We pay our respects to Elders, Performance Report 10 past, present and emerging. For thousands of generations, this land has been a significant site of gathering, belonging and storytelling. We are The Curtain Rises 17 proud to continue this tradition by embracing and celebrating the culture of Australia’s First Peoples and all First Nations Peoples. Partners and Supporters 19 RESPONSIBLE BODY’S DECLARATION Governance 21 In accordance with the Financial Management Act 1994, I am pleased to present the Geelong Administrative Reporting Requirements 25 Performing Arts Centre Trust’s Annual Report for the year ended 30 June 2020. Report Against Output Targets 34 Lesley Alway Chair, Geelong Performing Arts Centre Trust 25 November 2020 Five Year Financial Summary 34 Financial Overview 35 FRONT COVER Geelong Arts Centre, Ryrie Street Exterior Financial Statements 41 Image Credit: Rory Gardiner PLEASE NOTE Disclosure Index 79 Information is correct at the time of printing. PRINTING Printed on EcoStar Uncoated 100% recycled stock using vegetable inks FSC certification licence code is: Australian Made licence code is: PEFC certificate code is: GEELONG ARTS CENTRE — ANNUAL REPORT 1 ABOUT GEELONG ARTS CENTRE The Geelong Performing Arts Centre Trust The Act states that the functions of the (the Trust) was established by the Geelong Trust shall be: Performing Arts Centre Trust Act 1980 (the Act). It serves as a statutory authority which • To complete the construction of Geelong currently sits within the Department of Arts Centre, which shall be known as Jobs, Precincts and Regions. The minister Geelong Arts Centre (the Centre). responsible as of 30 October 2020 is the • To care for, improve and maintain Minister for Creative Industries, Danny Geelong Arts Centre. Pearson, MP, formerly The Hon Martin Foley • To control and manage Geelong MP, now Minister for Health. Arts Centre. • To present and produce theatrical performances, operas, plays, dramas, ballets, musical and other performances and entertainment of any kind in and outside Geelong Arts Centre. • To promote the use of Geelong Arts Centre by persons and bodies whom the Trust considers to be suitable. • To perform any other functions appropriate to Geelong Arts Centre as the Minister for Creative Industries may approve. 2 GEELONG ARTS CENTRE — ANNUAL REPORT CHAIR’S FOREWORD On behalf of my fellow Trustees, welcome to our Annual Report, in which we review our outcomes and achievements for the 2019-20 financial year. We feel great privilege to be responsible also had a negative effect on our financial enrich the experiences of our artists and for the stewardship of this wonderful outcomes and other key targets. Our CEO’s audiences, but also enhance Geelong’s organisation as well as the guidance report and other operational reports from cultural precinct to be a truly extraordinary of its future development. In doing so, the Centre provide further detail regarding destination with its unique co-location of we acknowledge the inspiration and the implications of the coronavirus cultural offerings. We acknowledge the endeavours of our many predecessors. (COVID-19) pandemic on our overall support of the Victorian State Government, We also recognise that our role has never performance for the 2019-20 financial year. particularly the Premier, The Hon Daniel been more important, given the unique and Andrews MP and the former Minister for I also want to acknowledge the significant challenging circumstances created by the Creative Industries, Martin Foley MP for impact the pandemic has had on the arts coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. their ongoing support of this important and culture sectors. These are areas that project that is scheduled for completion in In the first three quarters of the 2019-20 sit right at the very core of our business. 2023. financial year, the Centre achieved its key We create, develop and perform work as targets across all areas of its operations. part of a team to share with live audiences. I would like to thank my fellow trustees Artistically, there were many highlights The excitement, and indeed the magic of for their dedication over the last twelve including Indian Ink Theatre Company’s theatre, relies on the direct relationship months. In particular, I acknowledge Robert Guru of Chai, Back to Back Theatre’s and feedback between the performer and Costa who retired from the Trust after compelling The Shadow Whose Prey the their audience. Whilst the creative sector six years of service. His advice has been Hunter Becomes and Colin Friels at his has excelled in fast tracking innovative, invaluable and both the Ryrie Street and best in Scaramouche Jones, all of which new virtual experiences, we have all Little Malop Street redevelopments owe were part of the Deakin University Theatre mourned the absence of this live much to his support and guidance. Thank Season. Operationally, our targets were on connection across the course of 2020. you also to our CEO, Joel McGuinness and track with healthy venue-hire bookings, Geelong Arts Centre has endeavoured to the entire Geelong Arts Centre team for increases in earned revenue and strong support our artists and their livelihoods their leadership, dedication and innovation demand for our re-imagined 2020 Theatre during this period through the hosting of in managing the very difficult issues that Season. The major highlight for the year our own livestream events and other online have confronted us all during the last four was undoubtedly the opening of the Ryrie activities. These activities had extraordinary months of this financial year. Street Redevelopment in November 2019. global reach, attracting audiences from Likewise, the support and encouragement This stunning new building contains Bombay to Edinburgh, as well as our many of our colleagues at Creative Victoria, state-of-the-art spaces for performance, valued local patrons. These initiatives have our fellow arts agencies in the creative rehearsal, creative industries innovation accelerated the exploration of exciting new industries portfolio and other creatives, as well new public spaces for audiences. possibilities for theatre making and both locally and more broadly has been I congratulate the teams at Hassell, Kane, audience engagement that will be pursued outstanding during this time. To our many Development Victoria and Creative Victoria further. partners and supporters, your engagement for the delivery of such a superb new As I write this foreword, I am conscious with Geelong Arts Centre has never been facility. that we enter the first quarter of the 2020- more important and appreciated. Thank you As was the case for every organisation 21 financial year in a heightened state of for your ongoing enthusiasm despite the and individual all throughout Australia and uncertainty about the future as we try to many challenges that you are also facing. the world, 2020 has been a tumultuous understand how to lead our organisation As we support each other during this year as a result of the coronavirus through this difficult period. At the Centre, difficult period, we remain optimistic and (COVID-19) pandemic. Like others, we we feel very fortunate that we have been focused on the future. Both the Trust and have navigated unchartered territory able to focus on the planning for the $128 the team will continue to work hard to in managing both the operational and million Little Malop Street Redevelopment. ensure that the Geelong region has a truly strategic issues created by the pandemic. I congratulate our architects, ARM and great arts centre at its creative heart. Based on health advice and government the other consultant teams for their directives, we made the decision to close collaboration and inspiration as we have Lesley Alway | Chair our venues from mid–March 2020. This learned to work productively in a more Geelong Performing Arts Centre Trust has had a devastating effect on all of our virtual world. Excellent progress has been stakeholders, particularly on our scheduled made in the first half of 2020 towards artists, most of whom were programmed the design of the new Geelong Arts for performances that were then cancelled Centre, which will deliver exciting new at very short notice. The pandemic has theatre and public spaces that not only GEELONG ARTS CENTRE — ANNUAL REPORT 3 Geelong Arts Centre, featuring ‘Painted Light’ artwork by Daniel Von Sturmer Image Credit: Tom Bush 4 GEELONG ARTS CENTRE — ANNUAL REPORT CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER’S REVIEW The last year has certainly been a journey for us all and I am grateful to so many people for their ongoing support, encouragement and care during such challenging times. The 2019-20 financial year has had many Creative Victoria and Victorian Government is vital. Every dollar raised ensures that high points in the first three quarters of colleagues who have been unwavering in we can continue to deliver extraordinary the year and of course, some challenging their commitment to Geelong Arts Centre, experiences for our local community, lows as the coronavirus (COVID 19) our artists and the broader community. provide continued support to our artists pandemic impacted us all. I reflect and I am thankful that Geelong Arts Centre and keep our team engaged in meaningful am grateful for some of the great highs is surrounded by a cast of big-hearted and important work. during the year, including the massive champions that care passionately about We are looking forward to 2021 and the changes across our entire organisation.