22 August 2011

Your thoughts wanted on the Kingston Arts Precinct Precinct

| johnboy
Join the conversation
2
study area

No that’s not a typo, Andrew Barr is asking for your thoughts on the area around the Kingston Arts Precinct.

He’s also very firm this isn’t another chance to whinge about the Fitters’ Workshop.

Now the ACT Government is keen to hear from the Canberra community on ideas to develop this area to be a great place for the arts, a great place to live and a great place for the whole community.

Consultation has commenced and will run until 11 November and will be in two phases. The first focuses on planning principles that will underpin the precinct and the second will develop options for the future.

Two community workshops will be held. The first on urban design principles will be at the Baptist Church Hall, Currie Crescent, Kingston from 5.30pm to 7.45pm on Tuesday 6 September.

The second on development options will be held October 2011. Further details will be advised.

Three drop-in information sessions will be held at the Old Bus Depot Markets, Kingston Foreshore on Sundays 11 September, 9 October 2011 and 30 October 2011 from 10am to 4pm.

Submission can be sent to info-KF@act.gov.au or by post to Purdon Associates, 3/9 McKay Street, Turner ACT, 2612.

If they really want a precinct full of artists just throw up some warehouses and make them open to whomever wants to carve out a stake.

Join the conversation

2
All Comments
  • All Comments
  • Website Comments
LatestOldest

This is an unhelpful and cynical view of the visual arts in Canberra. Artists don’t just live in one suburb in the ACT, they live far and wide. A centralised district for the VISUAL ARTS is a great idea for our community. And there is nothing wrong with having educated, financially independent neighbours. Perhaps the new locals will enjoy having a cultural precinct at their doorstep and will contribute to supporting the work that is made there, or even perhaps joining in. There is already a great relationship between the current residents and the Glassworks. What better ways do you suggest to create an interested and engaged audience? What is wrong with art tourism? Isn’t that what we call an audience? Having a VISUAL ARTS precinct at the Kingston Foreshore will bring life and activity to the area. It would be more helpful to bring fresh ideas to the consultation process and make this new development a great thing for future generations.

I-filed said :

Any arts precinct worth its salt will be in an area where artists actually live and drink their coffee. It simply won’t thrive if the driver is, as in this case, tourism, and it’s set up in an area that has so far been a formulaic, banal yuppie development. The Glassworks artists have put up with the “artist as specimen” approach, but how many artists will ultimately object to being displays on tap for tourists to file past? And has anyone thought of the fact that any urban arts precinct will want its loud live music – how is that going to sit with heavily mortgaged public servants in their apartments who want to go to bed straight after Lateline?

Any arts precinct worth its salt will be in an area where artists actually live and drink their coffee. It simply won’t thrive if the driver is, as in this case, tourism, and it’s set up in an area that has so far been a formulaic, banal yuppie development. The Glassworks artists have put up with the “artist as specimen” approach, but how many artists will ultimately object to being displays on tap for tourists to file past? And has anyone thought of the fact that any urban arts precinct will want its loud live music – how is that going to sit with heavily mortgaged public servants in their apartments who want to go to bed straight after Lateline?

Daily Digest

Want the best Canberra news delivered daily? Every day we package the most popular Riotact stories and send them straight to your inbox. Sign-up now for trusted local news that will never be behind a paywall.

By submitting your email address you are agreeing to Region Group's terms and conditions and privacy policy.