Year in Review 2016/17

Brisbane Powerhouse is the home for living art, ideas and experiences, representing the personality

of contemporary Brisbane.

Audiences and artists intersect at our heart.

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FROM THE LORD MAYOR

Brisbane is a great place to live, work, and relax – it’s a safe, vibrant, green and prosperous city, valued for its friendly and optimistic character and enjoyable lifestyle. More leisure options mean more exciting events, and Brisbane City Council is proud to have been Brisbane Powerhouse’s supporter and partner in 2016/2017.

This year was one of the most thrilling yet at Brisbane Powerhouse and Brisbane City Council was delighted to be part of it. Key achievements were audiences of 55,000 at Brisbane Comedy Festival. The Comedy Hub at Brisbane City Hall and King George Square was a great new activation and squarely puts Brisbane on the world comedy circuit.

Brisbane City Council was also happy to be part of the replacement of the Powerhouse Theatre Seating Bank and Back Deck – two significant capital works projects onsite, ensuring Brisbane Powerhouse provides the best visitor experience to locals and tourists alike. In addition, we worked with the Brisbane Powerhouse team to convert all the office and public space lights to LED – a continuation of Council’s sustainability strategy being implemented across the precinct.

Once again thank you to the Brisbane Powerhouse Board for your enthusiasm and ambition, particularly Chair David Conry. Welcome to new Board Members John Cotter and Catherine Michael, and thank you to departing Board Members, Anna Marsden and Geoff Cooper for your outstanding service.

The Hon Graham Quirk Lord Mayor of Brisbane

IMAGE: BRISBANE COMEDY FESTIVAL BY DYLAN EVANS

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FROM OUR EXECUTIVE

Brisbane Powerhouse is our city’s back deck, a go-to destination for locals and the unique place tourists rave about. It is a gift to have such an extraordinary building in our City, and the responsibility of keeping it vital, active and essential is something that we feel deeply. We thank our staff and supporters for sharing this mission with us. The commitment of the Brisbane Powerhouse team has allowed us to have a tremendous year in 2016, including the most successful quarter in our history, even while managing periods where our theatre was dark for renovations. We remain one of the busiest and most diverse arts centres in Australia, with a program that includes local, national and international artists and creators across theatre, comedy, cabaret, visual arts, ideas, music, film, musical theatre, dance, circus, children’s engagement and digital. Our audiences are the venue’s beating heart, with over 50,000 visitors per month experiencing our precinct – its cultural program, free events, markets, art exhibitions, amazing dining and unique function experiences. Collectively, we can all be proud of achieving these fantastic results and look forward to another year of culturally rich and contemporary arts.

Fiona Maxwell Chief Executive Officer Brisbane Powerhouse

Value of tickets sold

Increase in ticket sales

2015/16 125,583

Kris Stewart Artistic Director Brisbane Powerhouse

OPERATING RESULT: $161,540 SURPLUS

THIS INCLUDES THE POWERHOUSE THEATRE BEING CLOSED FOR EIGHT WEEKS FOR THE INSTALLATION OF THE NEW SEATING BANK!

660,000 total visitors to

the precinct

% INCREASE IN COMMERCIAL AND CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS REVENUE7

IMAGE: QUEENSLAND CABARET FESTIVAL BY KIRSTEN COX

BRISBANE COMEDY FESTIVAL

55,099

attendees (up 25%)

WONDERLAND FESTIVAL

24,980

MELT FESTIVAL

6,600

QLD CABARET FESTIVAL

5,010

attendees (highest ever)

attendees (highest ever)

attendees (up 23%)

2016/17 $5.47 M

2015/16 $4.96 M

2016/17 147,805

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With more than 200 shows and 1100 performances annually, the Brisbane Powerhouse program is a hub for modern creativity, a conceptual “back deck” that buzzes with inventiveness, freshness and diversity.

We presented five major festivals and series in 2016/17: • MELT: A Celebration of Queer Arts and Culture • Brisbane Comedy Festival • Queensland Cabaret Festival • Writers+Ideas International Series • Wonderland

Most importantly, the Wonderland and MELT festivals featured 239 local performers and artists, all of whom were subsidised to receive 100% net box office, thus contributing to increased career viability for these artists.

We represent the diversity and vibrancy of modern Brisbane, with 16% of our artists coming from Indigenous and culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, including the development and premiere presentation of Song Lines by Michael Tuahine.

30% of events offered participatory arts opportunities to the community (including Powerkids: Little Artists at Play, Dead Puppet Society Academy, public forums and free Turbine Platform programming), and we continued our commitment to free weekly events such as Jan Powers Farmers Markets, Knockoff free comedy, Livespark + Mixtape free music, and Powerkids: Little Artists at Play.

OUR CULTURAL IMPACT

Program Makeup 2016/17

23% INTL

77% LOCAL +

NATIONAL

IMAGE: MELT OPENING NIGHT BY DYLAN EVANS

2017: 1379

2016: 909

2015: 743

Number of local artists

849

Number of emerging and

early career artists

1142

Ticketed + free performances

in 2016/17

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A foot in New Farm, a foot in New York.In 2016/17, we continued our commitment to the international and the local.

We supported the growth of local art with the development of two new Queensland musicals, Joh for PM and Soi Cowboy, as well as working with local companies to tell Queensland stories, such as Shock Therapy (The Forwards), Force of Circumstance and Nest Ensemble (He Dreamed a Train and Eve), Playlab (Blue Bones) and Briefs Factory (BRIEFS: Close Encounters), as well as Hanako which was commissioned as part of the Brisbane Powerhouse SWEET! program and presented in September as part of Brisbane Festival.

The number of Queensland artists represented in our venue is higher than ever before and arguably higher than any other arts organisation in Queensland history, with an unprecedented representation of Brisbane companies. This included our international sensation Circa, as well as the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Opera Queensland, Queensland Ballet, Dead Puppet Society, Vulcana Women’s Circus, Electric Moon and others.

We have coupled this with an array of international artists; shows as diverse as American singer-songwriter Amanda Palmer, UK’s RIP Production’s Graeme of Thrones, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe hit Trainspotting, French contemporary music royalty Nouvelle Vague, NZ's Modern Maori Quartet, the impish Alan Cumming and the Honourable Prime Minister of Tibet.

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Being held for the third and final time at Brisbane Powerhouse in February 2018, APAM is a multi-venue arts market produced by Brisbane Powerhouse and the Australia Council and presented across a range of Brisbane locations. Brisbane City Council is the principal supporter of APAM with support from the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland and Tourism and

Events Queensland.

In 2016/17, the APAM team continued their evaluation of the economic and cultural impact of APAM for the Brisbane and wider arts communities, and continued essential planning for the 2018 event, including meeting with artists across Australia, representing the event at international arts markets, and facilitating the curatorial panel who

chose the artists for 2018.

AUSTRALIAN PERFORMING ARTS MARKET“An opinion about any work is subjective, but understanding the environment or culture that frames it is vitally important. This is one of the reasons I consider APAM one of the best arts markets in the world.” RICHARD JORDAN THE STAGE, UK

IMAGE: APAM OPENING CEREMONY BY ROB MACCOLL

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OUR HOME

Central to our strategic vision has been the delivery of a number of programs to consolidate the successful ongoing viability of our venue and precinct.

Key to these has been:1. Community engagement

and commencement of a masterplanning process.

2. Development of a Visitor

Experience Strategy with

the appointment of a Visitor Services Manager.

3. A ticketing tender process

and the appointment of Ticketek as ticketing partner.

4. The roll out of new organisational event

management software

and a CRM.

5. Establishment of an HR

department, and initiation

of an organisation-wide digital strategy.

6. A fit out of the ThinkLab at River Studio, creating a significant new function space.

7. We continue to make a strong

investment in our events team,

who deliver a diverse range of corporate and public events.

With the addition of the River

Studio in 2016, the Events team

have seen the number of event attendees grow from 20,994 in 2015/16 to 29,624 in 2016/17.

8. Relationships remain strong with

our tenants, who have seen a 7% increase in turnover this year.

9. Installation of a new seating bank

in the Powerhouse Theatre and renovation of our deck.

10. The addition of seven new corporate partners.

11. Plus the addition of bee hives

to the roof!

We have looked to diversify and

grow our organisational income,

to ensure we have more funds

to target to our mission and

strategic goals.

IMAGE: FALCON VIEW PHOTOGRAPHY

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OUR PARTNERSWe acknowledge the contributions of all our valued partners in

2016-17 and thank them for their support.

MAJOR PARTNERS

PARTNERS

MEDIA PARTNERS

SUPPORT PARTNERS

SUSTAINABILITY PARTNERS

Your Event Specialist

CULTURAL PARTNERS

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Brisbane Powerhouse Foundation gratefully acknowledges the generous support of the following donors in 2016/17.

OUR DONORS10

IMAGE: ATMOSPHERE PHOTOGRAPHY

Brisbane Powerhouse Associates

David Conry

Celestine Doyle + Peter Liddy

John Frost

Cass + Ian George

Peter + Susie Godber

John + Sue Godwin

Kevin + Jane Griffiths

Leah Hornibrook

The Jelley Family Foundation

Craig Jones

Fiona Maxwell

Cameron Perkins

Dare Power

Lauren Stable

Kris Stewart + Lizzie Moore

Angie Strachan

THANKS FROM OUR BOARD

IMAGE: STUDIO IMPRESSIONS

Brisbane Powerhouse has had another big year and a key focus area has been the development of the Visitor Experience strategy, culminating in the appointment of Ticketek as not only our new ticketing provider, but a partner in connecting more broadly and deeply with audiences.

We are pleased to welcome new corporate partners: BMD, EY, Luxxbox, Microhire, Nick Did This, KDPR and The Johnson. Without you and all our sponsors, we are unable to do what we do, but its more than about logos and free tickets here, so we also hope we strengthen your businesses equally.

Special thanks to Brisbane City Council for supporting our business growth, and particularly sharing our plan to determine the best activation of our precinct through a new precinct evolution process.

Once again, we’ve enjoyed a strong artistic program with excellent financial returns, particularly across comedy and live music. This has enabled us to invest in local and emerging artists, many of whom we’ve seen showcased in MELT, Wonderland and Queensland Cabaret Festival throughout the year.

I extend a special thanks to the Leadership Team and the whole team at Brisbane Powerhouse, who’ve actively worked to set the organisation on a path of growth and transformation. The Board applauds your ongoing energy and ambition and we look forward to the year ahead.

David Conry Chair Brisbane Powerhouse

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FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2017STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME CONSOLIDATED

$COMPANY

$

REVENUE

Grants and contributions 3,240,894 3,169,894

Interest 67,215 51,999

Program 2,627,518 1,794,863

Commercial services 4,594,984 4,594,984

Sponsorship and donations 1,160,827 1,142,187

Operating revenue 11,691,438 10,753,927

APAM 541,550 541,550

Total revenue 12,232,998 11,295,477

EXPENSES

Advertising and promotion 562,896 562,896

Artists fees and show costs 3,626,387 2,609,615

Building maintenance 900,446 900,446

Commercial services 2,242,915 2,242,915

Administration 2,368,177 2,368,643

Cost of fundraising 345,712 345,712

Theatre operations 1,483,364 1,483,365

Donations - 120,000

Operating expenses 11,529,898 10,631,592

APAM 321,780 321,780

Total expenses 11,851,678 10,953,372

OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - -

TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE YEAR 381,310 342,105

The full Annual Accounts are available on our website: brisbanepowerhouse.org

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FINANCIAL REPORT AS AT 30 JUNE 2017STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION

CONSOLIDATED $

COMPANY $

CURRENT ASSETS

Cash 2,633,098 2,512,632

Receivables 300,082 412,814

Other assets 271,948 183,445

Total current assets 3,205,128 3,108,891

NON-CURRENT ASSETS

Plant and equipment 960,248 960,248

Intangibles 209,696 209,696

Total non-current assets 1,169,994 1,169,994

Total assets 4,375,072 4,278,835

CURRENT LIABILITIES

Employee benefits 302,568 302,568

Payables 572,874 716,593

Deferred income 1,056,190 1,058,430

Interest bearing loans 83,959 83,959

Total current liabilities 2,015,591 2,161,550

NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES

Employee benefits 31,902 31,902

Interest bearing loans 270,288 270,288

Total non-current liabilities 302,190 302,190

Total liabilities 2,317,781 2,463,740

NET ASSETS 2,057,291 1,815,095

EQUITY

Share capital 300,001 300,001

Unitholder Interest 10 –

Reserves 997,324 997,324

Accumulated surplus 759,956 517,770

Total equity 2,057,291 1,815,095

10 The full Annual Accounts are available on our website: brisbanepowerhouse.org

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BRISBANE POWERHOUSE PTY LTD 119 Lamington Street, New Farm PO Box 364, New Farm 4005ADMIN 61 7 3358 8622 EMAIL info@brisbanepowerhouse.org

Brisbane Powerhouse is a not-for-profit organisation, owned and supported by Brisbane City Council.

Brisbane Powerhouse is Brisbane City Council's centre for living art, ideas and experiences

helping to deliver a vibrant and creative city.

ADDITIONAL IMAGE CREDITS

01: OTHER WOMEN BY JOE PALINKAS

02: PANTI: HIGH HEELS IN LOW PLACES BY CONOR HORGAN

03: QUEENSLAND CABARET FESTIVAL BY KRISTEN COX

04: IN THE WARM ROOM BY SAM SCOUFOS

05: LANDSCAPE WITH MONSTERS BY LISA TOMASETTI

06: AMANDA PALMER BY SHERVIN LAINEZ

07: BRIEFS: CLOSE ENCOUNTERS BY JOHN TSIAVIS

08: JOH FOR PM BY STEPHEN HENRY

09 + 10: BRISBANE COMEDY FESTIVAL BY DYLAN EVANS