Submission
9 year plan feedback
Should we remove 231 Stuart Street (formerly the Fortune Theatre) from the list of strategic assets in the DCC Significance and Engagement policy?
Yes, remove 231 Stuart Street from the list of strategic assets (this is our preferred option)
Do you have any comments about 231 Stuart Street?
Should we charge an entry fee of $20 (incl. GST) for international visitors aged 16 and over, at Toitū and Dunedin Public Art Gallery?
Do you have any comments about the entry fee for international visitors?
Is there anything else you would like to tell us?
Otago University’s School of Performing Arts plays a significant role in the arts and cultural life of Dunedin. We are a training institution for new performing artists, and need to provide them with internship and other professional development opportunities. In order to attract new students, it is also important that our staff remain professionally active in the industry.
We are extremely concerned about the lack of support for theatre-making and theatre-going in Dunedin in the 9-year plan. We request the DCC:
• sell the former Fortune Theatre building and utilise the proceeds for performing arts infrastructure investment,
• reverse its decision to cease funding for Te Whare o Rukutia,
• continue funding the Professional Theatre Fund at its current level or at an increased level,
• invest in the Playhouse refurbishment as a matter of urgency,
• support a newly built community performing arts centre (via providing a suitable site, or partnering with landowners to secure a suitable site),
• support the public/private Athenaeum development, and
• create and adopt an Ōtepoti Theatre Action Plan (to complement the Ōtepoti Live Music Action Plan)
Theatre is more than a nice-to-have. It is essential to the cultural vibrancy and wellbeing of our community, and contributes significantly to Dunedin’s tourism and economy.
Increasing the verge-mowing budget is all very well (and an understandable council response in view of persistent complaints published in the ODT), but we argue supporting theatre and the other performing arts is more important.
Christchurch is about to open the multimillion-dollar new Court Theatre, which boasts two purpose-built state-of-the art theatres in the centre of town, highlighting the status of performing arts status within that city. It is imperative at this time that Dunedin supports its arts community and acknowledges the importance of the performing arts to the city’s culture.
If this is not done, other cities will rightfully claim to be the country’s only cultural centres. Dunedin’s professional and emerging performing artists will leave, companies will close or relocate, and the cultural ‘capital’ and dollars that visitors and residents would spend on attending performances and allied services will go to other cities. Dunedin’s cultural life, artists and reputation are at stake. We strongly urge the DCC to support Dunedin’s performing arts industry in its 9-year plan.
Kind regards,
Associate Professor Suzanne Little (Head of the Theater Studies Programme) and Associate Professor Jennifer Cattermole (Head of the School of Performing Arts)
Local Water Done Well feedback
Which water services delivery model do you support?
Why did you choose this option?
Do you have any other feedback related to the proposed water services delivery models?
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Submission id number: 1132448
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