Australia's biggest billboard has been unveiled today along Kelvin Grove Road as part of celebrations for the launch of QUT's new $60 million Creative Industries Precinct.
But the 45m by 9m billboard isn't stuck into the ground along the commuter road - it's attached to one of the striking buildings that make up the arts, industry and education zone.
Premier Peter Beattie braved high winds to unveil the billboard - literally - during today's celebrations for the precinct's "birth".
The billboard will be used to showcase Australian art, with reclusive Brisbane-born photographer Tracey Moffatt providing the first design.
Moffatt, now based in New York, created the original, smaller version of the "I made a camera" image for a Sydney exhibition last year. Inspired by her own youth, it shows a young Aboriginal girl rising from the Queensland dust in front of a tripod camera made of cardboard.
Today's launch celebrations also include a free Resin Dogs concert tonight from 7pm at the precinct, and a reception for industry leaders.
Mr Beattie said the new precinct, which was partly-funded by the State Government, was developing the jobs of tomorrow.
"You are part of a very exciting part of history for this city," he told guests at the launch.
The Premier said the Government valued its partnership with QUT and looked forward to the next major development at the Kelvin Grove campus - the Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation - which starts construction in July.
The Creative Industries Precinct was completed this year and is home to QUT's Creative Industries Faculty.
The faculty became the first of its kind in Australia when it was established three years ago and currently has about 2500 students.
They include budding fashion designers, journalists, dancers, actors, composers, artists, game developers, and web designers.
The precinct's business enterprise centre is also the new home for some of the state's most innovate - and creative - companies, including post-production company Beeps, Aeroplane Heaven, Cueball Creative, and the Australasian Centre for Interaction Design.
QUT Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Coaldrake said the creative industries were one of the world's fastest-growing economic sectors.
"The Creative Industries Precinct provides a unique opportunity for designers, artists, researchers, educators, entrepreneurs and students to easily connect," he said.
"This collaboration will allow them to create new work, develop new ideas and grow the creative industries sector in Queensland."
- Mechelle Webb
