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{{DISPLAYTITLE:The City of Fremantle ARTHUR HEAD PRECINCT Briefing Paper for Elected Members}}

{{DISPLAYTITLE:The City of Fremantle ARTHUR HEAD PRECINCT Briefing Paper for Elected Members}}

Prepared by Bathers Beach – Arthur Head Group

'''Prepared by Bathers Beach – Arthur Head Group'''

 

== Background ==

Background

Following Council’s adoption of the Cultural Development Strategy in June of this year, the Director of Community Development approached Artsource requesting a proposal for the ‘activation’ of Arthur Head as a creative arts hub, in line with Action 2.3 of the strategy,

Following Council’s adoption of the Cultural Development Strategy in June of this year, the Director of Community Development approached Artsource requesting a proposal for the ‘activation’ of Arthur Head as a creative arts hub, in line with Action 2.3 of the strategy,

Develop the Arthur Head properties into a dedicated  ‘Artists in Residence’ space.

Develop the Arthur Head properties into a dedicated  ‘Artists in Residence’ space.

Since then, tenants of the Arthur Head site have been active in pursuing information about the process and diligent in understanding the potential opportunities and challenges that arise from it.

Since then, tenants of the Arthur Head site have been active in pursuing information about the process and diligent in understanding the potential opportunities and challenges that arise from it.

We understand that Elected Members will meet with the Director of Community Development to discuss this matter on November 7. We forwarded our ideas for the development of a Creative Arts Hub to the Director on November 1 and we have attached them for your information.

We understand that Elected Members will meet with the Director of Community Development to discuss this matter on November 7. We forwarded our ideas for the development of a Creative Arts Hub to the Director on November 1 and we have attached them for your information.

As you will see from this document, we believe that there is great potential to develop a world-class facility at Arthur Head with a unique combination of creative activity and heritage interpretation. We are enthusiastic about the opportunity to work with the City on this development. However, it is important that Councillors have a full understanding of what has taken place in this process to date, why we have become agitated about the process and how we hope to achieve a more positive outcome in the future. We have found in our conversations with both City staff and elected members over recent weeks that there is significant misinformation about the existing activities at the site. We trust that the information we are providing here will assist Councillors in their consideration of the Arthur Head project and ultimately, will contribute to a better outcome for all.  

As you will see from this document, we believe that there is great potential to develop a world-class facility at Arthur Head with a unique combination of creative activity and heritage interpretation. We are enthusiastic about the opportunity to work with the City on this development. However, it is important that Councillors have a full understanding of what has taken place in this process to date, why we have become agitated about the process and how we hope to achieve a more positive outcome in the future. We have found in our conversations with both City staff and elected members over recent weeks that there is significant misinformation about the existing activities at the site. We trust that the information we are providing here will assist Councillors in their consideration of the Arthur Head project and ultimately, will contribute to a better outcome for all.  

Common Misconceptions

 

Artist studios at J Shed are subsidised

 

• J Shed tenants pay full commercial rent and do not receive any funding from local, state or federal government for ongoing running costs.  

== Common Misconceptions ==

• The studios were originally provided as an empty shell. All infrastructure has been installed by the artists and, in keeping with the lease, remains the property of the artists. This includes basic facilities such as power, water and sewerage as well as lighting rigs, partitioning, shelving and the mezzanine floor in Greg James’ studio (which is now used as an exhibition space for various artists).

 

Artist studios at J Shed are inactive

''Artist studios at J Shed are subsidised''

• Jenny Dawson Ceramics and Greg James Sculpture maintain an open-door policy and members of the public visit the studios constantly to look around and chat.

*J Shed tenants pay full commercial rent and do not receive any funding from local, state or federal government for ongoing running costs.  

• Both artists have maintained continuous viable creative businesses at the site for the past 20 years, successfully tendering for commissions, producing work for exhibition and retail. Between them, Jenny and Greg have produced over 80 public artworks in the past 20 years which are featured across WA, interstate and overseas.  

*The studios were originally provided as an empty shell. All infrastructure has been installed by the artists and, in keeping with the lease, remains the property of the artists. This includes basic facilities such as power, water and sewerage as well as lighting rigs, partitioning, shelving and the mezzanine floor in Greg James’ studio (which is now used as an exhibition space for various artists).

• Both studios employ other artists and workers to assist with major commissions.

 

• Both studios provide support to emerging and established artists in the form of artists in residence, mentoring, international guests.  

''Artist studios at J Shed are inactive''

• Both studios make their facilities available to support informal arts practice such as music nights and practice sessions for musicians.

*Jenny Dawson Ceramics and Greg James Sculpture maintain an open-door policy and members of the public visit the studios constantly to look around and chat.

• Both studios have strong relationships with members of the local Noongar community and Noongar people have welcomed the connection to the studios and the site.

*Both artists have maintained continuous viable creative businesses at the site for the past 20 years, successfully tendering for commissions, producing work for exhibition and retail. Between them, Jenny and Greg have produced over 80 public artworks in the past 20 years which are featured across WA, interstate and overseas.  

Artist studios, including J Shed, should be subject to turnover

*Both studios employ other artists and workers to assist with major commissions.

• There is an assumption running through the recent documentation from the City that it is good to have regular turnover in all artist studios. Some people have expressed the view that ‘someone else needs a go’ with the J Shed studios.  

*Both studios provide support to emerging and established artists in the form of artists in residence, mentoring, international guests.  

• As outlined above, Jenny Dawson and Greg James have successfully operated creative businesses at J Shed for 20 years. They are NOT subsidised artist studios. The City would not produce a document that talked about the need for turnover in any other successful business operation on the basis that it had been there too long and ‘someone else needed a go’ (e.g. Culley’s Tearooms). Why do this to artists?

*Both studios make their facilities available to support informal arts practice such as music nights and practice sessions for musicians.

• The successful artists at J Shed maintain a tradition that was established in the area with Joan Campbell’s Pottery Studio at the old kerosene store at Bather’s Beach. Joan’s presence and her support of young ceramists was highly prized and contributed to Fremantle’s reputation in the 70s and 80s as a City of Artists.

*Both studios have strong relationships with members of the local Noongar community and Noongar people have welcomed the connection to the studios and the site.

Cultural Development Strategy

 

== Artist studios, including J Shed, should be subject to turnover ==

 

*There is an assumption running through the recent documentation from the City that it is good to have regular turnover in all artist studios. Some people have expressed the view that ‘someone else needs a go’ with the J Shed studios.  

*As outlined above, Jenny Dawson and Greg James have successfully operated creative businesses at J Shed for 20 years. They are NOT subsidised artist studios. The City would not produce a document that talked about the need for turnover in any other successful business operation on the basis that it had been there too long and ‘someone else needed a go’ (e.g. Culley’s Tearooms). Why do this to artists?

*The successful artists at J Shed maintain a tradition that was established in the area with Joan Campbell’s Pottery Studio at the old kerosene store at Bather’s Beach. Joan’s presence and her support of young ceramists was highly prized and contributed to Fremantle’s reputation in the 70s and 80s as a City of Artists.

 

== Cultural Development Strategy ==

 

The rationale provided for Action 2.3 of the strategy states,

The rationale provided for Action 2.3 of the strategy states,

This project would provide an area for an ‘Artists in Residence’ programme that allow(sic) for artist exchanges and ensure(sic) all arts forms and indigenous artists are included in this project. The City could partner with a(sic) Arts organisation to oversee the Artist in Residence programme increasing the number of working artists sharing skills and producing work in Fremantle. This builds upon the current successful ‘Artist in Residence’ programme run by the Fremantle Arts Centre where up to 60 working artists a year participate in various ways to(sic) the arts community in Fremantle.  

 

''This project would provide an area for an ‘Artists in Residence’ programme that allow (sic) for artist exchanges and ensure(sic) all arts forms and indigenous artists are included in this project. The City could partner with a(sic) Arts organisation to oversee the Artist in Residence programme increasing the number of working artists sharing skills and producing work in Fremantle. This builds upon the current successful ‘Artist in Residence’ programme run by the Fremantle Arts Centre where up to 60 working artists a year participate in various ways to(sic) the arts community in Fremantle. ''

 

This rationale suggests that an ‘Artist in Residence’ program managed by an arts organisation such as Artsource, and along the lines of the successful program offered through the Fremantle Arts Centre, would achieve the desired ‘activation’ of Arthur Head.

This rationale suggests that an ‘Artist in Residence’ program managed by an arts organisation such as Artsource, and along the lines of the successful program offered through the Fremantle Arts Centre, would achieve the desired ‘activation’ of Arthur Head.

Councillors need to be aware that the studios made available through the Fremantle Arts Centre are generally offered on a short-term basis and the many studios managed through Artsource are generally offered on a mid-term basis of five years. These spaces are all subsidised through the public and private support that both organisations attract. They are intended to assist artists to achieve a level of professionalism that allows them to move on to more permanent practice, or they are provided to artists to fulfil a specific project. Artists taking up these opportunities are usually focused on individual studio practice and, as you will see by visiting Old Customs House or FAC, are usually busy behind closed doors developing their work. This is an important and valuable function. Both environments do offer artists an excellent opportunity to develop collaborations with colleagues and both organisations undertake occasional events or initiatives that showcase the artists’ activity to the public. For example, Artsource holds an annual Open Studio day and FAC often features artists in residence in its exhibition program. Again, these are laudable activities. However, they will not activate Arthur Head for visitors.  

Councillors need to be aware that the studios made available through the Fremantle Arts Centre are generally offered on a short-term basis and the many studios managed through Artsource are generally offered on a mid-term basis of five years. These spaces are all subsidised through the public and private support that both organisations attract. They are intended to assist artists to achieve a level of professionalism that allows them to move on to more permanent practice, or they are provided to artists to fulfil a specific project. Artists taking up these opportunities are usually focused on individual studio practice and, as you will see by visiting Old Customs House or FAC, are usually busy behind closed doors developing their work. This is an important and valuable function. Both environments do offer artists an excellent opportunity to develop collaborations with colleagues and both organisations undertake occasional events or initiatives that showcase the artists’ activity to the public. For example, Artsource holds an annual Open Studio day and FAC often features artists in residence in its exhibition program. Again, these are laudable activities. However, they will not activate Arthur Head for visitors.  

Although the artists appreciate the intervention that secured the lease until 2014, for security of their businesses they require longer leases. As a guide, The Commercial Tenancy (Retail Shops) Agreements Act (“CTA”) 1985 WA provides for a minimum tenancy of up to 5 years with an option for a further 5. The rationale for this is that any less does not allow for healthy planning for a business. These terms are in keeping with the original lease arrangements for the two studios and is what the artists are seeking – five years with a five-year option to renew.

Although the artists appreciate the intervention that secured the lease until 2014, for security of their businesses they require longer leases. As a guide, The Commercial Tenancy (Retail Shops) Agreements Act (“CTA”) 1985 WA provides for a minimum tenancy of up to 5 years with an option for a further 5. The rationale for this is that any less does not allow for healthy planning for a business. These terms are in keeping with the original lease arrangements for the two studios and is what the artists are seeking – five years with a five-year option to renew.

Management arrangements

 

== Management arrangements ==

 

The latest proposal suggests that in the future J Shed and other tenants in the area will be managed by an arts organisation at arm’s length from Council (ie. Artsource). We think this is entirely inappropriate. Artsource is a non-profit company limited by guarantee with a clear brief to provide support to visual artists. To do this, the organisation receives funding from the state government and attracts private and corporate monies to further their work. They also earn income through consultancy activities. We do not have a problem with any of this. However, it does mean that Artsource must respond to the shifting agenda of State Government. It also means that its experience is in managing subsidised studio spaces. We cannot think of any aspect of Artsource that involves managing a commercial operation (other than its own commercial initiatives).

The latest proposal suggests that in the future J Shed and other tenants in the area will be managed by an arts organisation at arm’s length from Council (ie. Artsource). We think this is entirely inappropriate. Artsource is a non-profit company limited by guarantee with a clear brief to provide support to visual artists. To do this, the organisation receives funding from the state government and attracts private and corporate monies to further their work. They also earn income through consultancy activities. We do not have a problem with any of this. However, it does mean that Artsource must respond to the shifting agenda of State Government. It also means that its experience is in managing subsidised studio spaces. We cannot think of any aspect of Artsource that involves managing a commercial operation (other than its own commercial initiatives).

We believe that tenants operating businesses in Arthur Head should retain a direct relationship with the City of Fremantle.

We believe that tenants operating businesses in Arthur Head should retain a direct relationship with the City of Fremantle.

Conclusion  

 

== Conclusion ==

We trust that the above amply demonstrates why we have been agitated by the process the City has undertaken in recent months. Repeatedly we have been offered assurances by City staff and elected members (and Artsource) that we ‘should not worry’. However, our experience is that unless we are vigilant in monitoring this process, there is every possibility that it will have an adverse affect on our future. Further, we are not at all confident that the current process will achieve the stated aims of the City, that is, to activate the Arthur Head area. Apart from the insult to current tenants that is implicit in this aim, we are entirely supportive of the City’s intention to improve and extend the activities in the area. We hope that the ideas we have put forward to the Director of Community Development will receive thorough consideration.

We trust that the above amply demonstrates why we have been agitated by the process the City has undertaken in recent months. Repeatedly we have been offered assurances by City staff and elected members (and Artsource) that we ‘should not worry’. However, our experience is that unless we are vigilant in monitoring this process, there is every possibility that it will have an adverse affect on our future. Further, we are not at all confident that the current process will achieve the stated aims of the City, that is, to activate the Arthur Head area. Apart from the insult to current tenants that is implicit in this aim, we are entirely supportive of the City’s intention to improve and extend the activities in the area. We hope that the ideas we have put forward to the Director of Community Development will receive thorough consideration.

Recommendations:

 

== Recommendations: ==

 

1. That existing leases with J Shed business operators and artists Jenny Dawson and Greg James, be replaced with a five year lease with an option to renew for a further five years.

1. That existing leases with J Shed business operators and artists Jenny Dawson and Greg James, be replaced with a five year lease with an option to renew for a further five years.

== External links ==

== External links ==