The National Aboriginal Art Gallery in Mparntwe (AliceSprings) will bring an additional 53,000 visitors each year, deliver up to $64million into the economy and generate up to 245 local jobs, according to anindependent business case into the project released today.
Prepared by Ernst and Young (EY), the business case isbased on the development of a CBD-based national institution and finds that itwill deliver significant social, cultural and economic benefit to Alice Springsand surrounding region. It was commissioned by the NT Government in October 2018.
The Territory Labor Government has committed an initial $50million to the Gallery project as part of its $100 million investment in anationally significant Arts Trail throughout the Territory to support and growthe arts and cultural industry, and provide new and enhanced attractions fornational and international visitors.
According to the key economic findings of the businesscase, the Gallery will bring:
an additional 53,000 visitors to Alice Springseach year, with visitation generating a further economic contribution ofbetween $42.8 and $64.2 million and 164 to 245 jobs.
a direct economic contribution from Galleryemployment of around $13.73 million per annum and up to 69 jobs once fullyoperational.
an economic contribution of between $118.6 and$142.4 million during the construction phase and up to 260 associated jobs eachyear over two years.
*figures represent direct and indirect output
As well as economic benefit and increased visitation, thebusiness case also finds that the Gallery will increase local employment,particularly Aboriginal training and employment, and stimulate privateinvestment in Alice Springs and in remote community art galleries.
It also notes that the Gallery project addresses thecurrent absence of a national institution to celebrate Aboriginal art andculture and that Mparntwe (Alice Springs) has a strong claim to host theGallery on historic, geographic and artistic grounds.
As stated by Minister for Tourism, Sport and Culture,Lauren Moss:
The independent case confirms what we have said allalong: the National Aboriginal Art Gallery will deliver significant social,cultural and economic benefits to the town and the region over the long-term.
It has the potential to be a catalyst for more privateinvestment in the town, for greater economic returns for local business, for arevitalised CBD, for a stronger future for Arrernte people, for reconnectingyoung people with their culture and ensuring they are engaged in the communityin a positive way.
The Territory Labor Government is embracing the deliveryof this cultural icon. We just want to get on with the job of building it.
It is critical that all levels of Government and thecommunity are now working together to realise this positive plan for AliceSprings.
As stated by Member for Braitling, Dale Wakefield MLA:
This independent businesscase confirms that the delivery of a gallery of national significance is a gamechanger for Alice Springs as it will deliver jobs and boost the economy.
Ernst and Young have clearly articulated why this issuch an important project and the business case provides confidence to partnersand stakeholders and importantly, to the Alice Springs community.
As stated by Co-chair, National Aboriginal Art GalleryReference Group, Dr Gerard Vaughan AM:
Asco-chair of the National Aboriginal Art Gallery Reference Group, I support theindependent analysis published in the business case and look forward tobuilding a new national institution which will celebrate our countrys Indigenous visual culture, and be able to draw on our greatest existingcollections of Indigenous art.
The National Aboriginal Art Gallery will not onlyfunction as a place for Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians to see andlearn about the visual culture of Australias First Nations peoples, but itwill also serve as a major tourism drawcard, and play an important role ingenerating employment and broad economic benefit for Alice Springs and CentralAustralia.
As stated by Chairperson, Tourism Central Australia, DaleMcIver:
Tourism Central Australiawelcomes the release of the National Aboriginal Art Gallery Strategic businesscase.
The detail included by theconsultants is pleasing to see and the key findings highlight the justificationfor the construction of the National Aboriginal Art Gallery within the CBD ofAlice Springs.
A project of this calibrethat is estimated to bring in an additional 53,000 visitors per annum to AliceSprings, which celebrates our Aboriginal Art in Australia is a much neededeconomic shot in the arm for both the Tourism Industry and the broadercommunity.
A copy of thebusiness case can be downloaded from https://creativeeconomy.nt.gov.au/about-arts-trail/national-aboriginal-art-gallery
