Ogden IFC awarded contract to manage four performing arts venues

30/12/98

Arts Minister Peter Foss has announced the awarding of a contract to Ogden IFC to manage four of Perth's main performing arts venues - His Majesty's Theatre, the Perth Concert Hall, The Playhouse and the Subiaco Theatre Centre.

Mr Foss said the Perth Concert Hall and the Subiaco Theatre Centre were subject to the endorsement and support of the Perth and Subiaco City Councils for this new venture.

"The four venues are more likely to reach their full potential under professional venue managers," he said.

"Ogden IFC will bring additional expertise and innovation to the management of the venues, and this will benefit local performing arts companies and will improve the quality of management of the venues and their services.

"The Government will commit an additional $1 million to the operation of the venues as an upfront investment in improved venue management services.

"The additional funding will be spent on business development activities such as market research, risk analysis and marketing.

"A condition of the contract was that Ogden would offer employment to the current employees of the Perth Theatre Trust."

The contract has been awarded for five years and is expected to take effect from March 1, 1999.

Ogden IFC managing director Harvey Lister said he welcomed the opportunity to manage the venues and contribute to the performing arts in Western Australia.

"Ogden has a wide range of experience in venue management in over 170 performance venues world-wide, and we are looking forward to providing services which will benefit both local companies and the audiences of theatres in WA," Mr Lister said.

"We will be looking to increase the range of performances staged in the venues to appeal to a wider audience, but most importantly we intend to establish closer working relationships with the local performing arts companies to work on common issues and take a co-ordinated approach to programming."

Media contact: Chris Morris 9321 2222