Directory talk:J Shed Fremantle
Report created by the "Cultural Development Working Group" of Fremantle.
The J Shed Perspective: We have found from our perspective this whole process set in motion by the "Cultural Development Working Group" of Fremantle to have been lacking in transparency and might we add in our opinion an under researched document.
At no time have we been consulted and we were actually unaware of the process in motion until 3 weeks ago. Some how in this whole process to review and revitalise the area, from which we work, we were not informed or approached for our input (all it takes is a email). The Cultural committee never spoke to us during their research process. Some members of the council itself even though they came through J Shed early this year, also never spoke to us about this. Artsource, of whom we have been members for 20 years, never told us about the process and only spoke to us after we discovered by accident that they were actually writing the recommendations based on the cultural committees report that would be put to council for vote. These above are facts and they could indicate many things. Something went horribly wrong in a process that is supposed to be open and transparent. I would hope that this should be addressed so that it doesn't happen again. It may be just poor management which needs to be rectified.
Note: Their recommendations have been received by Fremantle Council: Below a small section of the report:
"Develop the Arthur Head properties into a dedicated ‘Artists in Residence’ space
"This project would provide an area for an ‘Artists in Residence’ programme that allow for artist exchanges and ensure all arts forms and indigenous artists are included in this project. The City could partner with a 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 the arts community in Fremantle."
On the surface it reads well but we have taken a long time to get to the core of what this implies for the diversity of arts practise in Fremantle. Our main concern is that this committee has recommended to Council that the Arthur Head properties should be developed into a dedicated "artist in Residence space".
This means all of J Shed and all of the Arthur Heads buildings may be used for short term residencies and managed by Artsouce and involve only subsidised arts based activities. There will be no dedicated space for industrial processes with self managed arts businesses or any independent artist run initiatives in this area as the ones we run. In other words yet another mono culture of subsidised arts practise that already exists at The Moores Building, Fremantle Arts Centre and Customs house.
Note: What about the place for diversity and professional artists who can exist and self manage?
J Shed Art Studios ARTHUR’S HEAD PRECINCT Potential Ideas for a “Creative Arts and History Hub”
(Draft form)
Firstly it is our belief that the document titled the “Cultural Development Working Group” with the section that pertains to the Arthur’s Head precinct is under researched and its strategies are non inclusive and poorly resolved. It is not a suitable document to use as a reference point for any recommendations for this area.
Cultural Development Working Group stated:
"Develop the Arthur Head properties into a dedicated ‘Artists in Residence’ space.
This project would provide an area for an ‘Artists in Residence’ programme that allow for artist exchanges and ensure all arts forms and indigenous artists are included in this project. The City could partner with a 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 the arts community in Fremantle."
If the policies were adopted according to the document as it now stand, and the area was given over to the creation of a dedicated artists in residence space at Arthurs Head under the managership of Artsource it would lead to the removal of prominent arts businesses, all of the artists, and historical groups who are now operating from this area. The successful arts business who contribute to both the cultural and financial success of Fremantle would be lost for ever.
The section of the document concerning Arthur’s Head makes no allowance for the historical and cultural activities that are operating there at present (Pilots, historical society, Round House Guides, independent artists,arts businesses )
We believe that the terminology of revitalisation that has been attached to this proposition as a whole is misleading. It creates a misconception about the area.
The whole area has suffered from lack of maintenance and neglect on the Part of the City of Fremantle. It also lacks city planning strategies. For example there is no sign-age to indicate the existence of the artists and historical activities that are presently being conducted from the precinct. There are no fixed pathways to connect the various precinct and no lighting. There are barriers to access caused by the tunnel gates being locked and access by the public made difficult.
The area is actually artistically active. There is a strong art and cultural history to this area. The area has been articulated and active within the arts community for more than 40 years. Fremantle’s Internationally renowned potter and cultural Icon Joan Campbell worked from the present Kidogo Arts House for more than 20 years until her untimely death in 1997.
Both Greg James and Jenny Dawson bring honour to Fremantle with the quality and consistency of their work and continue a proud tradition set by Joan Campbell working in the nearby Old Kerosene Store where she too created large public works and supported the careers of many Australian artists through her mentoring and training. This continuity of ceramic practice and the particular connection between Jenny Dawson’s studio and Joan Campbell’s is a worthy feature in the interpretation of this area, as part of Fremantle’s revitalisation.
• There is a urgent need for maintenance to the buildings, lighting, sign-age, pathways and promotion as part of a demonstrable positive change and making the area more accessible, readable, safer and inviting.
• It is our opinion that any development of the area would radiate from the successfully operating studios in J Shed and Glenn Cowans studio on Arthur’s Head.
• The overall improvement of the precinct should be staged with advice sort from the viable and productive professional arts businesses already established, collaborating and trading successfully and other artists and historical who are presently working in the area. Their findings would be based on a very open and inclusive process that allowed all interested parties to put forward their propositions to the council for consideration.
• The time frame for the staged development should be finalised early so some changes to very visible areas occur quickly.
• In J Shed where full market value rents are paid by tenants the businesses should be encouraged to continue trading with their leases pegged to the same time frame so that all studios are on the same time line for review and renewal. As Units 2 ,3 and 4 are viable, have expensive industrial equipment and infrastructure already established and very active studios they could be used as the stable centre point from which the whole revitalisation radiates and an example of what the whole precinct can become. (vibrant and productive)
• The diversity of Arts practise within the precinct should be encouraged and preserved.
• We are opposed to a subsidised arts body that is governed by changing Government policies managing the whole of the precinct and especially what was initially established as studios to house small business working within the arts who could survive and prosper under their own initiatives. (J Shed ) We believe The Arts Centre , Artsource and the Moores building cater well for the needs of the subsidised artists and short term artistic projects.
Written by Jenny Dawson
(Ceramic Artist) B Ed Sts, BA Crafts, Dip Teaching, Post graduate Fine Arts
Jenny Dawson trading as J Shed Ceramic Art Studio
