19.09.2018Arts and Culture Roundtable

Last Wednesday, 19 September 2018, the Arts and Culture roundtable gathered for their September edition. The group had a full agenda covering a wide range of topics. Jesse Cain, Marriner Group, presented exciting developments in Melbourne’s theatre scene including the overwhelming bookings following the release of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and the release of a new musical Come From Away. The presentation was a positive reminder of the vibrant theatre scene in Melbourne. The working group, Enabling Creativity in Melbourne, presented current progress including identification of 3 needs and GIS data to map spaces. Suggestions from the floor added further avenues for investigation such as the possibility to evaluate underutilised studios and display spaces in Melbourne. Ideas from the conversation will be taken to the Chair, Nick Boulter, for consideration. Michelle King, Australia Accommodation Association of Australia (AAAoA), shared work by a group who are envisioning a method to reactivate Melbourne in winter. Hotel occupancy rates over the July period dropped significantly in comparison to the rest of the year which prompted the AAAoA response to reimagine how Melbourne could leverage existing Arts and Cultural activities to create a ‘Melbourne in winter’ brand. The endeavour is an excellent example of how Arts and Culture enterprises can forge symbiotic relationships across industries. The next Arts and Culture Roundtable will be 11 of December. Find slides from the event here.