18 December 2012

Megalo surrenders in the War Upon The Print Makers

18 December 2012 | johnboy

CityNews reports that the Megalo Printers have had enough in the fight over the Fitters’ Workshop:

Artistic director Alison Alder has written to ACT Chief Minister Katy Gallagher on behalf of the Megalo Board of Management, reiterating the board’s belief that “the relocation of Megalo to the Fitters Workshop remains the most appropriate course of action and that the Workshop would be a superb location for a print studio and gallery of such national and international standing.”
The letter goes on, “However, the continuing delays show no sign of abating, and indeed are having an increasingly negative impact on Megalo. We are therefore putting forward two new proposals.”

The Board has resolved to work with the Government to move Megalo into temporary premises in specially adapted Southern Offices on Wentworth Avenue, while also working with the Government to design and build a permanent purpose-built home for Megalo in the centre of the Kingston Visual Arts Precinct.

One hopes that the music groups demanding an unchanged Fitters’ Workshop will be billed a suitable fee to have it left inviolate all year around.

UPDATE 18/12/12 15:25: The Greens Caroline Le Couteur who lead the charge against Megalo has had a celebratory tweet:

Megalo wants to move to temp then new space at Arts Precinct, not Fitters workshop – Win Win @city_news http://t.co/7TI5fphj #canberra

— @carolinelec (@carolinelec) December 18, 2012

UPDATE 18/12/12 15:49: Chief Minister Gallagher has tweeted the Megalo letter which is a hell of a way to run a railroad.

Megalo Print Studio &Gallery's letter offering new proposal 4 accommodation in Kingston Arts Precinct #canberra pic.twitter.com/38BiI0zk

— Katy Gallagher (@SenKatyG) December 18, 2012

And we have a reply:

My reply to Megalo Print Studio & Gallery #canberra pic.twitter.com/IiyUsXjr

— Katy Gallagher (@SenKatyG) December 18, 2012

UPDATE 18/12/12 16:21: The letters are now on the Chief Minister’s website.

UPDATE 18/12/12 16:31: Shane Rattenbury has joined the party:

“The ACT Greens welcome this development. There was a need for compromise on this issue and I’m glad we have found it. I was pleased to have been able to work with the Chief Minister to find a solution to this long standing dispute” said Mr Rattenbury.

“It is a good outcome that the Fitters’ Workshop will be retained for a range of community events. It is a unique building and it deserves to be enjoyed by a diversity of Canberrans.

“It is good news that Megalo will now move into the area to add their colour to the Arts precinct. They will bring a strong contribution to the character of the area as the precinct continues to develop to its full potential over coming years” Mr Rattenbury said.

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NoImRight12:09 am 20 Dec 12

cranky said :

So there is apparently about $5.75 million dollars on the counter for the (maybe) 350 members of Megallo to persue their craft.

Just where do the 5% of the ACT electorate who have voted for the Motorists get a penny to get any sort of venue for their interest?

So they all had just the one you think?

GardeningGirl10:01 pm 19 Dec 12

poetix said :

Some of us will be watching closely for the first outbreak of carpet sales there. It’s a looming threat.

A very well orchestrated campaign, peeps.

Heehee. 🙂

Primal9:46 pm 19 Dec 12

poetix said :

Some of us will be watching closely for the first outbreak of carpet sales there. It’s a looming threat.

I’d be floored if that happened.

DrKoresh9:14 pm 19 Dec 12

cranky said :

So there is apparently about $5.75 million dollars on the counter for the (maybe) 350 members of Megallo to persue their craft.

Just where do the 5% of the ACT electorate who have voted for the Motorists get a penny to get any sort of venue for their interest?

Ummmmmmmm…… roads?

cranky8:37 pm 19 Dec 12

So there is apparently about $5.75 million dollars on the counter for the (maybe) 350 members of Megallo to persue their craft.

Just where do the 5% of the ACT electorate who have voted for the Motorists get a penny to get any sort of venue for their interest?

poetix8:06 pm 19 Dec 12

Some of us will be watching closely for the first outbreak of carpet sales there. It’s a looming threat.

A very well orchestrated campaign, peeps.

GardeningGirl7:21 pm 19 Dec 12

El_Mariachi said :

It’s nice to see some movement on this issue. The Fitters was always the wrong building for a bunch of printing presses. I just hope a lot of other people use the Fitters now to justify all the angst.

artuoui10:29 pm 18 Dec 12

screaming banshee said :

Richard Bender said :

Notably absent is the option of Megalo purchasing and fitting out its own workshop, rather than leaching off the taxpayer.

+eleventyzillion

Or using the facilities in Watson they already have fitted out for them.

screaming banshee7:31 pm 18 Dec 12

Richard Bender said :

Notably absent is the option of Megalo purchasing and fitting out its own workshop, rather than leaching off the taxpayer.

+eleventyzillion

Richard Bender6:52 pm 18 Dec 12

Notably absent is the option of Megalo purchasing and fitting out its own workshop, rather than leaching off the taxpayer.

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