REVITALISED ARTS CENTRE SUPPORTS GROWTH IN FAR NORTH QUEENSLAND

THE QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT’S $5.9 MILLION REFURBISHMENT OF THE FORMER CENTRE OF CONTEMPORARY ARTS CAIRNS SAW THE CULTURAL FACILITY REOPEN IN FEBRUARY 2020 AS BULMBA-JA ARTS CENTRE WITH AN EXCITING NEW, VISION AND IDENTITY.

Working in partnership with Arts Queensland and the Queensland Government Accommodation Office (who invested an additional $1.525 million in maintenance upgrades to the aging building), QBuild as part of the Department of Energy and Public Works undertook the project and procurement management, contract administration, superintendency and quantity surveying services for the project.

This partnership has successfully delivered a multi-award winning arts centre dedicated to supporting the development and presentation of First Nations arts from across Far North Queensland, providing an important cultural space, and maximising local employment.

A NEW FOCUS

The revitalised centre, completed over a two year period, is now bringing the unique stories of Queensland’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples into focus. The building design, led by local firm TPG Architects, was informed by a comprehensive consultation process with the local arts and cultural sector and the broader community, with significant input from representatives from Traditional Owner groups including Yidinji and Yirrganydji groups.

The new name for the centre is ‘Bulmba-ja’, meaning house or home. The name was recommended by Traditional Owner representatives from both the Yirrganydji and Yidinji groups. The building features a state-of the-art programmable LED façade that digitally displays artworks by the region’s First Nations artists on gentle rotation. Along with this unique façade, Bulmba-ja provides an open, inviting and engaging public space with a new foyer, improved theatre and gallery access, culturally responsive and flexible office spaces, new studio spaces, a culturally landscaped courtyard, Yarning Circle and Elder’s lounge.

The generous extension to the building has successfully blended the old with the new to retain character from the previous lives of the building originally built in 1979. The open and flexible spaces support Bulmba-ja tenants, including The Pryce Centre for Culture and Arts, JUTE Theatre Company, NorthSite Contemporary Arts, Miriki Performing Arts, Minjil Performing arts, and other startup Indigenous organisations, the ability to grow and collaborate, and showcase talented local artists and arts product.

METHODOLOGIES

The project management methodology adopted included engagement of:

• an architectural principal consultant and specialist subconsultants including local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander visual and performance artists to facilitate and inform stakeholder engagement;

• a town planner to work through development conditions that would apply to the extension and refurbishment works;

• building surveyors to review and advise on the change in classification of the building and building act compliance;

• an audio-visual specialist; and

• services engineering consultants.

New entrance to the centre.

(Source: Queensland’s Department of Energy and Public Works)

Yarning circle.

(Source: Queensland’s Department of Energy and Public Works)

Given the consultation with such a broad stakeholder base exceeded the planned duration to achieve acceptance of the schematic design concept by all parties, the project delivery methodology was changed from fully documented to design and construct. An early works package was created so that demolition works could take place in parallel with the tender documentation, design development and approval process.

SUPPORTING ECONOMIC GROWTH

Although not located in a discrete Indigenous community, this project was identified by Arts Queensland, in consultation with the Department of Seniors, Disability Services and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, as an Indigenous project. This meant that in addition to the 10% apprentice/trainee labour hours required to be met under the Queensland Government Building and Construction Training Policy, a minimum of 3% of the estimated project value (incl. GST) was required to be allocated towards an agreed Indigenous Economic Opportunities Plan.

The project management team, with the assistance of the Department of Seniors, Disability Services and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, provided support and contacts to the successful building contractor, Hansen Yuncken, to assist in the engagement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses. The project objectives of maximising local employment and Indigenous economic spend were exceeded. A total of 4,513 training hours were completed exceeding the target of 3,120 hours and $265,894 in economic spend exceeded the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander supply requirements.

Artists from Minjil Performing Arts performing at the opening ceremony.

(Source: Photo by Marc McCormack, supplied by Arts Queensland)

THE UNVEILING AND RECOGNITION

To unveil the newly refurbished centre, Arts Queensland held an official welcome day and smoking ceremony which included performances and gallery exhibitions showcasing the unique and diverse stories of Far North Queensland’s First Nations artists.

Rita Pryce, Director of the Pryce Centre, said the company’s move to Bulmba-ja was a perfect fit for the Pryce Centre.

“The Pryce Centre for Culture and Arts has been able to create global pathways for remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth with identified talent and who show a commitment and dedication to the arts. Our culture, and most importantly its protocols, is the foundation of everything we do. By empowering the Pryce Centre team through the tenancy, Arts Queensland is helping to create a culturally safe platform for our First Peoples to share their stories through the arts that are unique to this part of the world.”

Not only has Bulmba-ja received praise by tenants, artists, visitors and the community, the success of the project has been recognised through the receipt of multiple awards including:

• the Eddie Oribin Award for Building of the Year for Far North Queensland courtesy of the Australian Institute of Architects’ Regional Architecture Awards;

• a commendation in the Australian Institute of Architects’ Queensland Architecture Awards; and

• the best project in the Community Service Facilities category at the Master Builders Far North Queensland Regional Awards.

QBuild is proud to be part of a project that makes such a positive and inspiring difference to the Cairns community.

Author: Leanne Kear, a Senior Project Manager, has been delivering projects for Queensland’s Department of Energy and Public Works, across various industries, customers and geographical regions for over 15 years. Leanne was the Project Manager for the Bulmba-ja refurbishment and revitalisation project. Other recently completed projects include the Pormpuraaw supported accommodation project and the Aurukun housing project.