Toulouse-Lautrec the summer blockbuster for 2012-13

moneypenny2612 said :

^ Spoken like a philistine.

$500K is peanuts to pay to get priceless works of art out to Australia’s national gallery. You might not appreciate it, but many thousands of Canberrans and visitors will. Toulouse Lautrec is a genius.

I’m sure $500K savings could be found elsewhere. Eg, if only TAMS fully planned their pavement rejuvenations in Civic. I’ve lost count of the number of times the pavement on London Circuit outside the Legislative Assembly has been pulled up and relaid over the last 2 years. And the stormwater drains still don’t won’t properly.

“Toulouse Lautrec is a genius”? I thought he was dead.
And I am not a philistine; in times of prosperity I would encourage financial support from the ACT Government but this isn’t the time and $500 K is simply over the top. Barr is more a “look at me” enthusiast than a bean counter, unfortunately. Bear in mind that Australia is on the cusp of another recession and this will affect the numbers of interstate visitors. The NGA is accountable to the Federal Government not the Territory one. How about Barr stumps up another $500k for our local Art Gallery as well?

fabforty said :

dungfungus said :

How much of ratepayers’ money is Barr going to throw at this one? The last one cost us $500K and there was little tangible evidence that it paid dividends.
Austerity is unpopular I know but the Territory is facing a massive defecit this year and now is not the time to be funding anything but the bare necessities.

The Renaissance exhibition brought in about $75 million into the ACT.

It was estimated at that figure – there is no evidence of it though. If your happy to pay an increase in your rates for it why don’t you say so.

I’m having some fun already imagining the items in the gift shop. Maybe snow-domes with the Moulin Rouge? Perhaps a range of invisible lingerie? There will be food. Wonder what it’ll be?

I-filed said :

I don’t think robust and rotund middle-aged ladies can swoon in any case!

I hope not – could do some serious damage.

fabforty said :

dungfungus said :

How much of ratepayers’ money is Barr going to throw at this one? The last one cost us $500K and there was little tangible evidence that it paid dividends.
Austerity is unpopular I know but the Territory is facing a massive defecit this year and now is not the time to be funding anything but the bare necessities.

The Renaissance exhibition brought in about $75 million into the ACT.

Renaissance was an entirely different kind of exhibition. One-horse shows don’t do so well. Most of TL’s seminal works have been exhibited at various times in Australia over the years. The brilliantly curated Monet exhibition did quite well but was not in the same ballpark as Renaissance either. The “scandal” element to TL no longer works. As for the hype: “global” audience? Get real! Lots of New Zealanders perhaps, and some dropping-down to the ACT by some Asian tourists already in Australia – but they would be coming already to see the War Memorial and the Indigenous art at the NGA.
I think Robyn “Faux Diaspora” Archer’s mawkish and self-indulgent response was unhelpful. I mean, Robyn, are any of the punters going to share your experience of handling one of the works? No? Well shut up with the “swoon talk” then. I don’t think robust and rotund middle-aged ladies can swoon in any case!

I don’t mind a bit of culture, even if it isn’t in a yoghurt container or bottle-conditioned beverage of your choice.

Pretty sure we have more than $500K burnt each year by ineffective members of the ACTPS. I know where I’d rather see the money going.

^ Spoken like a philistine.

$500K is peanuts to pay to get priceless works of art out to Australia’s national gallery. You might not appreciate it, but many thousands of Canberrans and visitors will. Toulouse Lautrec is a genius.

I’m sure $500K savings could be found elsewhere. Eg, if only TAMS fully planned their pavement rejuvenations in Civic. I’ve lost count of the number of times the pavement on London Circuit outside the Legislative Assembly has been pulled up and relaid over the last 2 years. And the stormwater drains still don’t won’t properly.

fabforty said :

dungfungus said :

How much of ratepayers’ money is Barr going to throw at this one? The last one cost us $500K and there was little tangible evidence that it paid dividends.
Austerity is unpopular I know but the Territory is facing a massive defecit this year and now is not the time to be funding anything but the bare necessities.

The Renaissance exhibition brought in about $75 million into the ACT.

It was reported this way as the usual platitude to justify the expenditure but other than that there is no evidence that this was the case. The worsening economic situation of the Territory calls for spending restraint.

dungfungus said :

How much of ratepayers’ money is Barr going to throw at this one? The last one cost us $500K and there was little tangible evidence that it paid dividends.
Austerity is unpopular I know but the Territory is facing a massive defecit this year and now is not the time to be funding anything but the bare necessities.

The Renaissance exhibition brought in about $75 million into the ACT.

Let’s hope the NGA is a bit more forward-thinking about this exhibition than others. Only opening for business hours is ridiculous. The fact that people are willing to line up for hours to get in surely indicates that there is scope for much longer opening hours and therefore greater revenue.