Thursday, 24 February 2022

Ministers statements: creative industries sector

Mr PEARSON (Essendon—Assistant Treasurer, Minister for Regulatory Reform, Minister for Government Services, Minister for Creative Industries) (14:16): I am delighted to update the house on how our creative industry sector is roaring back to life and putting Victoria centre stage as the cultural capital of Australia. Thanks to every Victorian who has gone and got themselves vaccinated, we are open and the wonders of late summer and autumn are here for all of us to savour.

Here is just a selection of what has been proudly supported by the Andrews Labor government. The NGV Chanel exhibition is stunning and is on until 25 April. There is lots more to see and do at the NGV, including the wonderful Bark Ladies exhibition, so come down and join the more than 350 000 visitors who have visited since November. Our On the Road Again busking and live music program is a treasure trove, with over 700 buskers and live shows popping up in every corner of the state. Do not miss the glorious Lin Onus exhibition, The Land Within, at the Shepparton Art Museum—it closes on 13 March. Victorian Opera’s production of The Who’sTommy is now on at the Palais, and dance lovers get ready because the Australian Ballet’s Anna Karenina premieres tomorrow.

But wait, there is more. Triceratops: Fate of the Dinosaurs opens at the Melbourne Museum on 12 March, and this will be enormous. Melbourne’s fashion festival begins on 3 March. The Melbourne International Comedy Festival starts at the end of March, and Melbourne Design Week is on in March too. The Blak & Bright First Nations literary festival celebrates fantastic First Nations writers from 17 to 20 March, covering all genres from oral stories to epic novels and poetry. The Leader of the House and the member for Bendigo West are all shook up that Elvis: Direct from Graceland begins at the Bendigo Art Gallery on 19 March, and RISING comes alive in June—full of art, music, performance and ceremony in the heart of Melbourne. Victoria is vaccinated, we are open and Victorians are making the most of all there is to offer across our creative state.