Decision Maker: Council
Decision status: Recommendations Determined
Minute by the Lord Mayor
To Council:
On 23 February 2024, I was joined by the
Prime Minister and the NSW Premier to officially open Qtopia Sydney.
Over 2 weeks later, on 11 March 2024, Council
unanimously agreed to support free entry on Sundays to Qtopia Sydney for its
first year with a sponsorship of $100,000.
The Free Sundays initiative has been a
stunning success, with over 10,000 visitors passing through Qtopia’s doors in
the first year, with many patrons also visiting local businesses.
Qtopia has now approached me asking whether
the City would sponsor free Sundays for a further 12 months. I am proposing
that Council provide this support, not only because of the success of free
Sundays, but Qtopia’s other achievements in its first year.
Qtopia Sydney is more than a museum and has
described itself as a “centre for queer history and culture”. It has achieved
this by creating exhibition spaces in the former Darlinghurst Police Station,
converting the Police Station loading dock into a theatre, using the former
substation as an exhibition/performance space and turning the former
underground toilets into another exhibition space.
This has enabled Qtopia to mount 19
exhibitions and present 87 productions in its first 12 months. One of its
exhibitions received 2 awards, while another was nominated. The live
productions attracted a total audience of around 9,000 across 276 performances.
The Loading Dock Theatre was used as the Queer Hub during the Sydney Fringe
Festival.
Education is another of Qtopia’s key roles.
In 2024, it created 8 corporate programs, with 34 groups using them. It also
developed 4 school programs, with 2 programs linked to the school curriculum.
One of these has been approved by the NSW Department of Education and another
is awaiting approval. The programs commenced in October 2024 and will continue
this year augmented by a rural and regional schools incursion program beginning
in April. Qtopia expects that 8,000 school students will take part in these programs
during 2025.
Much of this has been achieved with the
support of active and engaged volunteers. As of December last year, Qtopia had
521 registered volunteers who have contributed a total of around 6,500 hours
since it opened.
Qtopia will continue to build on these
achievements. Five exhibitions will open this month. A further 12 exhibitions
are planned for the first floor of the Police Station when the building works
are completed. Fourteen productions have already been announced for 2025.
Qtopia will also participate in Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, Gays and
Gags Comedy Festival, Pride Fest 2025 and the 2025 Sydney Fringe Festival.
These achievements and planned activities
merit Qtopia receiving continued sponsorship from the City.
COUNCILLOR
CLOVER MOORE AO
Lord Mayor
Moved by the Chair
(the Lord Mayor) –
It is resolved that the Chief Executive
Officer be requested to bring a report to Council as soon as possible about
renewing the City’s sponsorship of Qtopia Sydney to enable it to provide free
entry on Sundays for further 12 months.
Carried
unanimously.
S051491
Report author: Erin Cashman
Publication date: 17/02/2025
Date of decision: 17/02/2025
Decided at meeting: 17/02/2025 - Council
Accompanying Documents: