The Perth Thread

[Borry]

I think the kids will love it- but it will depend on how accessible things are for parents. No point in having things like this if people can't get parks at the train stations or can't get a park in the city if they have to drive.

That can be applicable to anything in the city.

 

[Off The Couch]

I don't have an interest in it, the closest I get to anything remotely cultural is football or basketball but I don't have a problem with funds being spent on it, but I do question the timing when we are supposedly tightening our belts and people are losing their jobs left right and centre at the moment because of these cuts. I also question the blocking of streets when the city is already chaotic with the ongoing road works down on the foreshore - I'm just glad I don't work in the city precinct but I suppose there was never really going to be any way of getting around that.

 

[Off The Couch]

Our weather is totally whacked at the moment
It's now rained for all of 20 seconds but I presume more is on the way

 

[Stronzo]

How on earth is a three day event great for tourism?

For something to be meaningful in a tourism context it either has to be enduring (ie. Monuments, culturally significant places) or to have built a reputation (ie. Mardi Gras) as an event. Unfortunately the puppet shiw doesn't have, nor is ever likely to possess, either of these hallmarks.

Do agree re: community participation though

The more events of the like the city has, the more people will see it as a cultural destination, not just for beaches and vineyards.

 

[Stronzo]

I think the kids will love it- but it will depend on how accessible things are for parents. No point in having things like this if people can't get parks at the train stations or can't get a park in the city if they have to drive.

I've never had a problem getting a car park in the city.

 

[Off The Couch]

I've never had a problem getting a car park in the city.

You may with streets blocked off
In saying that - I have no idea which streets are and aren't blocked off

 

[Stronzo]

Who gives a toss if streets are blocked off. Boo hoo to the workers of the CBD

It's not like they wouldn't have been adequately informed of the spectacle.

 

[Tarkyn_24]

Who gives a toss if streets are blocked off. Boo hoo to the workers of the CBD

You mean the ones that are contributing to rather than draining our economy?

 

[Stronzo]

You mean the ones that are contributing to rather than draining our economy?

Are you their spokesperson?

Can you account that this is the case for everyone of them?

Is this even relevant to the discussion?

 

[The Speaker]

Arts is a difficult area to measure in terms of economic cost/benefit.

Of course, if you're trying to measure it in those terms, you're entirely missing the point.

 

[Kram]

5 million dollars for 2 big puppets?

 

[Tarkyn_24]

Are you their spokesperson?

Can you account that this is the case for everyone of them?

Is this even relevant to the discussion?

It's the Perth thread, so of course it pertains to the discussion.

It's a shame you're getting so precious about a contra point of view.

I'd imagine CBD workers would have every right ti complain about inconveniences to them in blocking the streets as they just try to go about their day to day livelihoods.

My real question is why this 'cultural extravaganza' was not arranged for a weekend during the school holidays, or a long weekend - when the CBD was least congested and the target market, the kids, would have greater access to it?

 

[Illinois Nazi]

It had better not turn the train home into a nightmare trip tomorrow afternoon.

 

[Tarkyn_24]

Arts is a difficult area to measure in terms of economic cost/benefit.

Of course, if you're trying to measure it in those terms, you're entirely missing the point.

In terms of economic cost/benefit, no, the arts are not particular difficult to measure, especially an event such as the Giants one.

It becomes more difficult when the flow on benefits associated with tourism etc accrue, that simply isn't going to be the case wi a one-off event at its inception. I doubt Victorians have much idea about this event, and we live in a rather urbanised state - the majority of our population lives in Perth or its surrounds. There's negligible tourism effects of this Giants event.

What I will grant you is that it is hard to quantify the social benefit of the Arts, and this is where the Arts has its value.

My argument is that I would've much preferred to have seen the funds put towards a more enduring cause than a two day puppet show. I'm not saying at all that the Arts don't have an important role in society. I just would've preferred the funds be spent on something like creating an outdoor performing arts venue near the CBD that could have been used to entertain well into the future.

 

[Stronzo]

It's the Perth thread, so of course it pertains to the discussion.

That is a given, and unless you're a total dill you'd be aware that I was referring to your measly point of "the ones who are contributing to rather than draining our economy".

It's a shame you're getting so precious about a contra point of view.

No, just the simplistic terms you're putting it in.

I'd imagine CBD workers would have every right ti complain about inconveniences to them in blocking the streets as they just try to go about their day to day livelihoods.

Yeah, but big deal. Everyone is going to whinge about something, some even whinge on behalf of others. CBD workers would be used to such things, and it's been pretty widely publicised.

My real question is why tgis 'cultural extravaganza' was not arranged for a weekend during the school holidays, or a long weekend - when the CBD was least congested and the target market, the kids, would have greater access to it?

That's a fair point.

 

[Reginald Perrin]

$5M could rebuild the dilapidated library in my nearest regional centre and provide a venue where public artworks could be displayed and local artists could show their work. Of course, not many Perth people visit that regional centre.

 

[Borry]

So much whinging about an arts show, only in Perth.

 

[Tarkyn_24]

So much whinging about puppets, only in Perth.

Not so much whinging as debating the economic benefit and necessity of the event.

Or is it unreasonable for ratepayers to want their taxes put to the best possible use? Or is this why we're also all so content to allow the diabolical Perth Stadium plans to go ahead at ridiculous expense and an incredible lack of foresight as to what's likely to be needed in 20 years?

In Perth it seems to be a matter of sitting on your hands and doing nothing for as long as possible, only to then choose the least efficient course of action in the face of public pressure and then to engage in gross overruns on project length and costs.

 

[Stronzo]

In terms of economic cost/benefit, no, the arts are not particular difficult to measure, especially an event such as the Giants one.

It becomes more difficult when the flow on benefits associated with tourism etc accrue, that simply isn't going to be the case wi a one-off event at its inception. I doubt Victorians have much idea about this event, and we live in a rather urbanised state - the majority of our population lives in Perth or its surrounds. There's negligible tourism effects of this Giants event.

What I will grant you is that it is hard to quantify the social benefit of the Arts, and this is where the Arts has its value.

My argument is that I would've much preferred to have seen the funds put towards a more enduring cause than a two day puppet show. I'm not saying at all that the Arts don't have an important role in society. I just would've preferred the funds be spent on something like creating an outdoor performing arts venue near the CBD that could have been used to entertain well into the future.

The whole Giants spectacle really smells of a fiasco to me.

But its not necessarily about this show, its about 10 years from now. It takes time to build a reputation and have people taking notice. Of course it is of negligible benefit when you look at it from the perspective of a one off show.

 

[Tarkyn_24]

But its not necessarily about this show, its about 10 years from now. It takes time to build a reputation and have people taking notice. Of course it is of negligible benefit when you look at it from the perspective of a one off show.

Are there plans for this to become an annual cultural event?

I'll admit to being ignorant of the future intentions, and if there is plans to jettison something culturally beneficial off the back of this well into the future then I'll admit that it has more worth than what I'm currently giving it credit for.

My understanding is it doesn't, and that there a plethora of other projects, including those in the Arts field, that have more merit than a one off puppet show.

FwIW, I know you touched on these benefits previously, but I have my own reservations about Perth ever becoming a cultural hub and the associated tourism benefits - mainly due to its isolation. If Perth were on the eastern seaboard it might have a little more success launching from this sort of platform.

 

[Reginald Perrin]

But its not necessarily about this show, its about 10 years from now. It takes time to build a reputation and have people taking notice. Of course it is of negligible benefit when you look at it from the perspective of a one off show.

The International Arts Festival has been running since 1953. Plenty of time to assess the potential tourism benefit I would have thought. The only overseas visitors it seems to attract are the ones getting paid to be in it.

 

[Kram]

$5M could rebuild the dilapidated library in my nearest regional centre and provide a venue where public artworks could be displayed and local artists could show their work. Of course, not many Perth people visit that regional centre.

The good city folk have already had enough money ripped off them with that disgraceful Woyalties for Weegions thingy, wasting money out in the bush on stuff like schools, parks and renovating heritage theatres

 

[Tarkyn_24]

The good city folk have already had enough money ripped off them with that disgraceful Woyalties for Weegions thingy, wasting money out in the bush on stuff like schools, parks and renovating heritage theatres

Yeah, we want our puppets now!

 

[Reginald Perrin]

The good city folk have already had enough money ripped off them with that disgraceful Woyalties for Weegions thingy, wasting money out in the bush on stuff like schools, parks and renovating heritage theatres

Yeah, nice one. Royalties for Regions now pays for recurrent government expenditure in the bush, all the state's additional money is being spent on Elizabeth Quay and 4 lane driveways to Perth Airport.

Remember when the Queen visited for CHOGM and Perth had to get gold plated brick paving? R4R money.

 

[james brayshaw]

Yeah, we want our puppets now!

Hey mate wanna go see the puppets with me this weekend? heard they're pretty good.