When the government pledged $3.8 million for a capital works project in conjunction with the earlier decision to move Megalo Print Studio to the Fitters’ Workshop, they probably weren’t expecting the backlash they received.
The Standard Committee on Education, Training and Youth Affairs have just published a report about, as the title plainly states, ‘Future Use of the Fitters’ Workshop, Kingston’.
The Committee has five recommendations, including that the Fitters’ Workshop be used for performance and multi-arts, that they suspend the decision to move Megalo to the Fitters’ Workshop, that they find an alternative site at the Kingston Arts Precinct for a purpose-built building in which to house Megalo Print Studios, and that they use the funding that they would have used to convert the Fitters’ Workshop for this. My favourite is the recommendation that the government responds to their recommendations within 1-30 days.
While reports from outside entities did say this in its current state it is a good venue for choral performances, I can’t see much use in having a music venue that isn’t at all versatile.
“I have discussed the acoustics with many of my colleagues at the School of Music and there are as many ratings as there are respondents. While it may be seen as a fine acoustic by choral groups the weight of opinion expressed to me by instrumentalists who had performed there was that it was an extremely difficult acoustic space in which to work.”- Mr Jim Cotter of the ANU School of Music.
As well as this, it has to be remembered that the room is currently empty. Adding in comfortable seats and an audience, as the bare minimum, would undoubtedly change the acoustics.
It seems a bit unfair on the part of the Committee to be making these asks at the expense of the Megalo Print Studio, simply so that we can have another performance venue that is predominantly used for the sale of carpets.
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