HER Majesty\u2019s Theatre will receive the $5 million needed to complete its refurbishment if Labor forms Federal government after the election on 18 May.<\/p>\n
The extra funds are needed to finish off restoration, and give full attention to safety, disability access and functionality, bringing Her Majesty\u2019s into the 21st century and making it a place for everyone.<\/p>\n
For the theatre\u2019s Chair, Cr Daniel Moloney, the potential for $5 million to materialise after the election, eases longterm uncertainty.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve been in a situation for that last couple of years where we\u2019ve had some great plans to improve the place, but we haven\u2019t been able to roll them out,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was really good when we heard then state government announcement late last year of $10 million, because it meant that we could get the key things done, but we still couldn\u2019t necessarily do that final bit of planning until that last $5 million came along.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf there is a change of Federal government, what it will mean is that every tier of government, as well as donors, have contributed to it, and that\u2019s a really rare project,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt really goes to show that it\u2019s a project worth doing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cr Moloney said it was unfortunate many people only became passionate about campaigning after the theatre had to close, but support has been great.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe broader community has got behind it. There\u2019s been more than 5000 people sign a petition.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a place that\u2019s not just a great place to go to be entertained at night, it\u2019s also important to the economy for our local businesses,\u201d Cr Moloney said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe local theatre production companies come in here and they\u2019ve got hair stylists, makeup artists, they\u2019ve got
\nchoreographers, directors\u2026 it cuts across so many different industries.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe amount of young people you see coming in here to effectively get trained in jobs that allow them to then not only
\ngo on and perform around the world, but also support shows\u2026 It\u2019s almost like a big TAFE that people don\u2019t see behind the
\nscenes,\u201d Cr Moloney said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you think about the generations of people that have come through here; the ghosts of the past\u2026 It gets to live on.\u201d<\/p>\n
Shadow Minister for the Arts, Tony Burke was in town to announce the election promise, tour Her Majesty\u2019s and feel the
\nhistory with Federal Member for Ballarat, Catherine King.<\/p>\n
He said community lobbying for the icon\u2019s protection has been extensive and impressive.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs soon as I was back in the Arts Portfolio, Catherine was presenting me with photographs of what is, I understand,
\nthe oldest continuously used theatre in the country,\u201d Mr Burke said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe push from the community has been overwhelming, but when I say community, it\u2019s important and critical that
\naccess to both creativity and being in the audience, goes to the whole community.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to the City of Ballarat\u2019s Disability and Access Inclusion Plan 2018- 2021, around 20,000 people in Ballarat live
\nwith a disability. Currently 6600 of those disabilities are severe or profound, and by 2031 there could be 30,000 people living
\nwith a disability in Ballarat.<\/p>\n
Her Majesty\u2019s board has been disappointed that the cultural hub, built in 1875, hasn\u2019t yet
\nbeen able to cater for all abilities.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you know your theatre can\u2019t be fully accessed by everyone, it\u2019s a basic equity issue that we\u2019ve been concerned
\nabout for quite a while,\u201d Cr Moloney said.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo know that people can only come down to one level of the theatre and not be able to perform on stage, or to be
\nable to go to the best seats in the house upstairs, as a board we\u2019ve seen it as one of our big priorities.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe next thing, we\u2019ll start a process with Heritage Victoria, and that will probably be a fairly detailed permit
\nprocess, to get the lift in place.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Burke said a restored Her Majesty\u2019s Theatre with this contemporary accessibility really matters.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe arts are the critical moment when we all come together.<\/p>\n
More people actually go to an arts event each year than go to a sporting event.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a stat that\u2019s often not thought about,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to make sure that performers with a disability are able to perform here, are able to use the stage, and that
\neverything\u2019s accessible there.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re an audience member, you want to be able to make sure that you can seamlessly turn up
\nwith your ticket, get in, see a show, love it the same as anyone else.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Burke said everyone will feel a sense of ownership of the space when it reopens.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re the custodians of a pretty special national asset.<\/p>\n
The glory of it goes to the whole community\u2026and disability access is a critical part of it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms King was pleased to pledge money towards Ballarat\u2019s \u201cfantastic\u201d theatre community.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have lots of people who have different abilities and they should be able to perform here, they should be able to access this theatre in the way that everybody does,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s hard when you\u2019ve got a building that\u2019s 144 years of age to make that happen, but I\u2019m very committed that this
\nmoney will go towards making sure that everybody is included in the fantastic Her Majesty\u2019s Theatre.\u201d<\/p>\n
The City of Ballarat has previously injected $5.3 million into the project.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
HER Majesty\u2019s Theatre will receive the $5 million needed to complete its refurbishment if Labor forms Federal government after the election on 18 May. The extra funds are needed to finish off restoration, and give full attention to safety, disability access and functionality, bringing Her Majesty\u2019s into the 21st century and making it a place […]<\/p>\n