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?
Sell the Fortune Theatre and add the proceeds into the 17 million dollar fund set aside for theatre in Dunedin.
Professional theatre is essential for secondary students undertaking NCEA Drama exams. The absence of such facilities has posed significant challenges in ensuring students' success in their examinations. The Dunedin City Council must address the needs of the youth in Dunedin. At my institution alone, there are 350 Drama students, and there are 12 high schools in Dunedin with similar numbers. Providing visible pathways for our drama students is crucial, as students who engage in this subject are 67% more likely to remain in school, complete their education, and become valuable members of society 1.
Supporting an additional professional theatre will also benefit University of Otago students. Allen Hall Theatre, the busiest theatre in the southern hemisphere, has seen talent leave the city due to the absence of such facilities. Established artists who previously worked at the southernmost professional theatre in the world have had to seek employment elsewhere. To retain creative innovators in our city, we must provide an environment conducive to their work 2.
Three theatres—the Playhouse, the NAT, and the Mayfair—have proposed a well-thought-out and well-researched plan, supported by experts. It is imperative that this plan receives the necessary funding to succeed. Without this support, historic buildings will lose their function. The Playhouse, with its unique model, must be supported to ensure that future generations of children receive the same care, training, and opportunities as previous generations. The parent community will also be affected if the Playhouse is lost, as it serves as a vital child holiday programme 3.
Since the closure of the Fortune Theatre, $17 million has been earmarked for theatre in Dunedin. We have been patiently waiting for these funds to be allocated so that they can benefit our community by providing jobs, opportunities, and fulfilling some of the requirements of being a UNESCO World City of Literature. It would be unconscionable if these funds do not go to the community they were intended to support. Action should have been taken following the CharcoalBlue report 4.
The theatres in Dunedin are physically deteriorating because they have often been deprioritized. It is time to allocate the funds that have been set aside so that these theatres can continue to function in the future. It is embarrassing that Balclutha has better facilities than any theatre in Dunedin 5.
International performers have praised the Dunedin theatre scene, recognizing its unique value. This is one way to make Dunedin a standout destination. The one art event at Forsyth Barr Stadium generates more revenue for the Dunedin economy than all the sporting events it hosts combined. In the absence of the Fortune Theatre, patrons have taken their business to other city centres, spending money that should be spent here.
Do not allow Dunedin, with its vibrant arts community, to decline under your watch.
Should we charge an entry fee of $20 (incl. GST) for international visitors aged 16 and over, at Toitū and Dunedin Public Art Gallery?
Yes, introduce an entry fee of $20 (incl. GST) (this is our preferred option)
Do you have any comments about the entry fee for international visitors?
Is there anything else you would like to tell us?
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?
Supporting information
No associated documents with this submission.
Submitter
Submission id number: 1132532
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