For arts sake

Hi All

Well things have changed a bit since my last post. The arts sector in my home town Burnie, has copped a huge blow.

Due to budget pressures, the council has decided to close the museum, the art gallery and the Makers’ Workshop (which housed the visitor info centre and handmade paper experience). It has also decided that it will step away from organising public events.

West Park precinct with the Makers’ Workshop (prior to the commencement of the new UTAS campus.

No-one in the arts community was consulted in any way, and consequently, felt like they had been kicked in the guts. Devastated would probably describe it best.

I think the researchers from QUT would get some quite different responses if they conducted their survey now!

Knowing the people within our arts sector, they won’t go down without a fight.

Exhibition opening at the Burnie Regional Art Gallery.

And the events…who else is going to run events like Kids in the Park or New Year’s Eve celebrations?

The motivation most have for running events is to make money. The motivation for the events previously mentioned is to bring the community together, to celebrate…not to make a profit.

Federation Street in the Burnie Regional Museum.

I know the Burnie Arts Council is working hard to get the best out of a crap situation. I hope things can be turned around.

I strongly believe that without the arts our city is just a shell…soul less.

At this point it’s hard to imagine ‘Burnie Shines’.