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Future certainty for Albany Entertainment Centre

The Albany Entertainment Centre (AEC) has secured an additional $1.5 million from the State Government on top of an original commitment of $464,000.

The centre attracts nearly 40,000 people each year through more than 200 events, performances, functions and conferences.

About 4,500 people per year attended free community events at the venue including school productions and free simulcasts from the West Australian Symphony Orchestra and WA Opera.

The centre is a valuable asset to the region more broadly with about 32 per cent of the audience coming from outside the City of Albany.

The current funding agreement between the City of Albany and the State Government has been in place since 2015, and was due to expire on June 30, 2019.

With the previously committed $464,000 allocated in the 2018-19 Budget, the State Government has now confirmed that it will provide $500,000 annually from July 1, 2019 until June 30, 2022.

The State Government and the City of Albany each contribute 50 per cent of the operational cost of the centre, which includes cash and in-kind contribution from the City.

The centre’s financial sustainability is guaranteed through the Government’s in-kind contribution with the City of Albany.

The Government is continuing to work with the City, through the AEC Operational Advisory Committee, to develop a long-term management plan for the centre.

The operations committee is made up of representatives from the City of Albany, the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries, the community and the Perth Theatre Trust.

The Albany Entertainment Centre is managed by the Perth Theatre Trust on behalf of the State Government. For more information on the AEC, visit https://www.ptt.wa.gov.au/venues/albany-entertainment-centre

Image: Albany Entertainment Centre. Credit: SeanMack [CC BY-SA 3.0 or GFDL], from Wikimedia Commons