Client: Brisbane Powerhouse
State: QLD
To build on the existing brand presence and attendance at the MELT: Festival of Queer Arts and Culture and attract an audience from interstate and internationally, Brisbane Powerhouse has proposed to expand the festival from the confines of the Brisbane Powerhouse. The new festival, referred to as MELT Open, will be delivered across inner Brisbane (including in New Farm, Fortitude Valley, Newstead, Brisbane CBD, and West End).
In support of MELT Open, Brisbane Powerhouse is seeking funds from Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ) and Brisbane Economic Development Agency. In developing the funding applications, Brisbane Powerhouse engaged AEC to conduct an economic impact assessment to demonstrate that MELT Open will contribute to the Queensland economy, attract visitors to Queensland, and enhance the profile of Queensland.
The economic impact assessment demonstrated that in the first year of operations MELT Open would support net additional $53.5 million in industry output, $27.0 million in gross regional product, roughly 238 FTE jobs supporting $17.8 million in wages and salaries paid within the Brisbane LGA economy (including direct and flow on activity).