HISTORY FESTIVAL

Mr BIGNELL (Mawson) (15:10): My question is for the Minister for the Arts. Can the minister inform the house about the government's involvement in History Week?

The Hon. J.D. HILL (Kaurna—Minister for Health and Ageing, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for the Arts) (15:10): Yes, I can, Madam Speaker. I thank the member for his question. I am very pleased to announce that the History Festival opened on 30 April and will run right through the entire month of May. About Time, South Australia's History Festival, was developed from the very successful SA History Week, which began in 2004 and has grown since that time. It is backed, obviously, with government funding. The program was extended over a month in 2011 to mark our 175^th anniversary, and it is being supported again this year.

This year's program is extensive and includes 513 individual events offered in every region of the state, and an exciting new element, Open House Adelaide, will be held on 19 and 20 May. That involves 48-plus buildings in the city opening up to the public, including Parliament House itself. These open buildings include both heritage places and cutting-edge modern architecture.

The festival will make an important contribution to our government's strategic priority of creating a vibrant city. Members might like to keep an eye out in the city for some of the wonderful historic images that are appearing on buildings, created by urban artist Peter Drew. History SA has also created a photographic exhibition from a fantastic collection of glass plate negatives, and they are being projected onto the rear of the Target building in Rundle Street.

It is encouraging to see the participation in Open House Adelaide from Adelaide businesses and from all tiers of government, including state government instrumentalities such as Housing SA, SA Water and Arts SA, the Film Corporation, the Festival Centre, as well as cultural institutions along North Terrace and, once again, our own parliament. The Adelaide City Council is both a participant and a supporter. The Commonwealth Law Courts building will also be offering tours.

I am particularly pleased to see that some other government housing initiatives, like Common Ground and Ifould Apartments, are included in the program. About Time is supported by several strategic partners, including the Adelaide City Council, the University of Adelaide, the University of South Australia and 891 ABC Adelaide. I would like to thank all of them. I commend the program to the house and encourage members to investigate what's on in Adelaide.