Directory talk:J Shed
"Develop the Arthur Head properties into a dedicated ‘Artists in Residence’ space
“Cultural Development Working Group” (City of Fremantle): "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".
J Shed Art Studios ARTHUR’S HEAD PRECINCT
Does 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.
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.
Note: What about the place for diversity and professional artists who can exist and self manage?
