The Perth Cultural Centre and the wider community will benefit from a new allocation of $23million for asset investment in the State Budget, including $8million of recurrent funding.

Culture and the Arts Minister John Day said much of the asset investment expenditure, which would occur over three years, marked the start of transforming the Perth Cultural Centre into a vibrant precinct for all Western Australians to enjoy.

“The Perth Cultural Centre has suffered decades of neglect by successive governments so I am thrilled that this Liberal-National Government is fulfilling an election promise to start revitalising this precinct,” Mr Day said.

The Art Gallery of Western Australia, with an ageing facade that has remained unchanged since the building was built in 1979, will receive a much-needed facelift with the injection of $10million for a remodeling of its facade over three years.

“At the moment, the Art Gallery building has a very stark external design and is not very inviting,” the Minister said.

“A new facade is also needed from a maintenance point of view because of the state of disrepair of the current structure.

“The new facade will create a more inviting ambience and reflect the creative aspect of the Art Gallery’s contents, as well as contributing to a better overall aesthetic for the cultural centre.”

A sum of $8million of recurrent funding will be spent to demolish the museum’s old Francis Street building in preparation for the new WA Museum.

$5million will also be spent in 2009-10 for planning the new WA Museum as well as the redevelopment of the overall Perth Cultural Centre.

This redevelopment, involving the East Perth Redevelopment Authority, will focus on redesigning the open spaces of the precinct to increase its accessibility for the public and improve links to the city centre and Northbridge.

In addition to the $23million of investment injection (including $8million recurrent), the Perth Cultural Centre will also benefit from the completion of the new State Theatre Centre of Western Australia. 

Construction of this site remains on track for completion in 2010, with $7.4million budgeted to finish the $91million project.

“This new world-class facility will add to the Perth Cultural Centre’s appeal as a key entertainment precinct in this State,” Mr Day said. 

The Minister said that in light of the difficult world economic climate, he commended the Department of Culture and the Arts for meeting the State Government’s efficiency savings.

“DCA proved itself to be adaptable and creative in its response to the Government’s directives while maintaining an outstanding level of delivery,” he said.

The total budget for Culture and the Arts for 2009-10 is $104.137million (delivery service only, not capital) a decrease of $9.178million compared to 2008-09. 

Mr Day said $7.6million of this reduction was due to the cashflow variation of the Arts funding (formerly Ignite).

“It’s important to note that this Arts funding (formerly Ignite) has not decreased.  The cashflow variation merely means that most of the funding for this program over four years occurred in the first year (2008-09),” he said.

A total of $2.566million would be saved through the three per cent efficiency measures, including $2.018million on staffing and operational expenses, $152,000 in delivery of the WA Museum’s exhibition programs, $122,000 in the graduate training program at the State Library and $100,000 in the Perth Theatre Trust’s programming. 

Another $174,000 would be saved by reducing opening hours across the portfolio.  This would include closing the Art Gallery to the public each Tuesday, the weekday which attracted the least visitors.  This takes effect from July 7. Opening hours for the other six days of the week will not change.

“Other international cultural institutions such as the Louvre in Paris and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York have been following this practice of a public-free day for many years,” the Minister said.

“This public-free day will allow the Art Gallery of WA to better focus its operations on core business activities and identify possible new revenue streams.”

The WA Museum would also review its opening hours across its various sites.

Mr Day said the $23million for asset investment (including $8million recurrent) would establish a solid foundation to secure the future viability of Perth’s premier cultural institutions for the benefit of the WA community.

“Through this efficiency saving, the Art Gallery will be a more cost efficient organisation and will continue to connect its art with the people of WA and its visitors.

“This Government is committed to improving the city’s cultural heart and supporting a strong and vibrant arts and culture sector for generations to come,” he said.

WA Budget statements are available at http://www.ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au/