{"id":12762,"date":"2018-04-25T03:10:51","date_gmt":"2018-04-25T03:10:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cultureheist.com.au\/?p=12762"},"modified":"2018-04-25T03:10:51","modified_gmt":"2018-04-25T03:10:51","slug":"nsw-art-gallery-continues-to-ignore-key-issues","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cultureheist.com.au\/wordpress\/2018\/04\/25\/nsw-art-gallery-continues-to-ignore-key-issues\/","title":{"rendered":"NSW Art Gallery continues to ignore key issues"},"content":{"rendered":"

Alternative locations, future funding not seriously considered<\/strong><\/h2>\n

By JUDITH WHITE<\/p>\n

The Art Gallery of NSW has now responded to the raft of submissions opposing its Development Application (DA) for the Sydney Modern project, condescendingly dismissing some of the most significant concerns.<\/p>\n

Its 126-page response report<\/a>, prepared by Architectus, the Sydney firm consulting on the project, focuses on \u201caddressing submissions requesting changes\u201d by introducing minor modifications to the design. There will be no re-examination of the entire project. \u201cGiven the changes are not major and the design remains substantially the same and retains design excellence it does not trigger reconvening of the [architectural] Jury,\u201d the response says.<\/p>\n

Remediation measures include the planting of 24% more trees and the addition of sandstone to the fa\u00e7ade of the new building. No additional transport or parking facilities are proposed.<\/p>\n

There were 178 submissions objecting to the DA with just 70 claimed to be in support. Some objectors argued strongly for consideration of an alternative location, such as Parramatta which still has no public art gallery. But this idea is dismissed in the report on the grounds that it would entail \u201ca significantly reduced cost benefit ratio for the State and risk to the Gallery\u201d. No supporting detail is given.<\/p>\n

\"\"

NSW Planning Minister Anthony Roberts<\/p><\/div>\n

What\u2019s the significance of a \u201ccost benefit ratio\u201d? Well, NSW regulations mandate that State Significant Developments (SSDs) must have a ratio of benefits to costs (CBR) of more than 1:1. Since the business case remains secret, by decision of Premier Gladys Berejiklian\u2019s Cabinet, there is no way for the public to judge the CBR. It remains a mystery. In any case, it\u2019s highly questionable whether a positive CBR is relevant or can even be calculated for a cultural institution, which requires the investment of public funds for long-term benefit of the people.<\/p>\n

Which brings us to the vexed issue of recurrent funding for the exotically expanded institution. The report does not attempt to address this, fuelling fears that the secret business case involves the introduction of entrance fees, running the building as a corporate function centre, or both.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Catherine Brenner, chair of AMP and Trustee of the AGNSW<\/p><\/div>\n

It\u2019s now over to Planning Minister Anthony Roberts, the sole consent authority for the DA, to decide the fate of the project. Roberts recently announced a new 40-person State Design Review Panel for SSDs. If he refers the Sydney Modern DA to the panel, there will be further time to stop this misguided vanity project. Given the Berejiklian Government\u2019s record on infrastructure construction, there\u2019s only the slimmest chance of the project being delivered on time \u2013 by 2021! \u2013 and within the $344 million budget.<\/p>\n

But there will now be pressure to push the DA through, not least from the AGNSW\u2019s powerful Board of Trustees presided over by David Gonski, chair of ANZ bank, whose fellow Trustees include Catherine Brenner, chair of the board of embattled financial giant AMP whose practices have been excoriated by the banking Royal Commission.<\/p>\n

The Powerhouse and the Gallery<\/strong><\/h2>\n

When he took a stand on 12 April against moving the Powerhouse Museum to Parramatta, Opposition Leader Luke Foley backed the eminently sensible idea of building a Western Sydney space for performance and exhibitions from all the central Sydney cultural institutions.<\/p>\n

Both Labor and the Greens ought to be ready to pursue the idea when the business case for the Powerhouse move is released, which should be by the end of this week.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s thanks to Liberal MP Matthew Mason-Cox, who earlier this month crossed the floor to support a Greens motion, that the business case is being released at all. He slammed the Government\u2019s \u201cperverse culture of secrecy\u201d and said: \u201cGovernments invariably make poor decisions when they don\u2019t do their homework before making an announcement, fail to properly consult those affected and don\u2019t really listen\u201d.<\/p>\n

His stand threw into chaos the Government\u2019s attempt to manage the Powerhouse debacle. Former Premier Mike Baird, who made the original decision on the move in 2015, had bought time by finally agreeing to appear before the Upper House Inquiry into Museums on 28 May. Arts Minister Don Harwin then issued a statement \u2013 on Easter Sunday! \u2013 to the effect that the business case would remain secret for 90 days after the Government announced its final decision on the move. Baird would have been unable to answer questions about the business case, which was created only afte<\/em><\/strong>r <\/em>his announcement. The decision in Parliament has put paid to that manoeuvre.<\/p>\n

Just as with the Powerhouse, the business case for Sydney Modern was prepared only after<\/em><\/strong> the AGNSW announced its Sydney Modern plan back in 2013. For the State to develop a cultural policy with any credibility, MPs should demand that document too is released before a decision is taken on the DA.<\/p>\n

Sustained campaigning backed by informed opinion can halt some of the Government\u2019s bad decisions. If opposition to the move of the Ultimo museum is gaining ground it\u2019s largely due to the three-year campaign by the museum professionals and supporters of the Powerhouse Museum Alliance. For their latest advice about lobbying politicians, and to keep up with the rapidly-changing news about the move, see their website https:\/\/powerhousemuseumalliance.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"

Former Premier, now banker, Mike Baird<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

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