Your views: on arts funding and more
Today, readers comment on the ‘dire state of the arts’ in SA, police horse relocation and a call for reciprocal kindness.
Commenting on the story: Premier urged to address the ‘dire state of the arts’ in SA
I totally support the open letter to the Premier sent by 50 longstanding members of the SA arts sector, and would make the point that the list would be a lot longer if current arts leaders were willing to add their names.
Understandably, they don’t do so for fear of failing even further to improve the position of their funding situation. My main point is that the arts industry continues to fail in seeking to draw support from an essential component of its vitality – its audiences and supporters.
I am a former arts administrator (at the Festival Centre), and have for the last 30 years been an avid supporter of and advocate for the arts, and am reasonably well known within the performing arts sector. Yet, I have never been invited to actively and publicly support the arts. Yes, I get annual appeals for financial support, but I already spend many thousands of dollars a year at the box office. Campaigns for the arts solely by artists risks seeming to be self-serving.
As consumers of the arts, we are part of the industry. Seek our support and you will reinforce the impact of the arts at the electoral box office. – Vincent Burke
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Commenting on the story: Thebarton police horse advice revealed
What a tangled web this Labor mob weaves. A check on the PlanSA website the day this story was published (August 4) indicated that planning minister Champion had not finalised the rezoning proposal for the West End Brewery land.
Once rezoning occurs for high-rise development (as is the case with this site), the value of the land skyrockets. There is still time for him to dump the proposal, at least for a slice of that land, enough to enable the state to pay a lower price to build a new police horse barracks. Better still, why not renege on the whole rezoning bid, so that the state can afford some of the 8.43ha of that land for the new Women’s and Children’s Hospital – and leave the existing barracks where they are?
I’m astonished that when state cabinet was discussing the still secret New Women’s and Children’s Hospital bill 2022, which required a 4ha site for a 10-storey hospital, at the same time the planning minister was approving brewing giant Lion’s bid to get land only one km away rezoned and massively revalued. In this way, the government would ultimately shoot itself in the foot (whole leg off?) because the rezoning would put acquisition of that ideal land well beyond the state’s capacity to pay!
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I note on the Plan SA Planning and Design Code site that the rezoning would “help facilitate a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform a former industrial site into a unique, world-class lifestyle precinct”. Why not instead a unique, world-class state health precinct – and leave the park lands alone? By the way, there’s already a huge, state run car park adjacent. Can’t these guys join up the dots? – John Bridgland
The machinations around the relocation of the police horses have been ill-considered, confusing and counter-productive.
The horses have been in the park lands for 100 years and should stay there in a relocated site. The government’s misjudged and seemingly populist and political decision to capitulate to the illogical and unrealistic public demands to overprotect the park lands has created serious problems, not only for the horses and their policing functions, but for the timely establishment of the new WCH.
Rex Patrick’s contribution to the debate has been unhelpful. Park land sites were always going to be practical and sensible. Any impingement on open space would be inconsequential in the context of the 100 community facilities and 90 hectares of sporting activities already accommodated in the park lands.
The airport site is PFAS contaminated, Gepps Cross is too far away, a staging facility next to the law courts is wasteful and undesirable and there is no way that taxpayers should be forced to pay $90 million for the Coca Cola land.
The hospital construction must start on time to escape the financial impost of broken building contracts, and, more importantly, to avoid any delay in the completion of this essential health facility for our and children. – Warren Jones
Commenting on the story: ‘It’s Gotta Start Somewhere’ is a call for reciprocal kindness
What a beautifully written article about a truly inspirational young Darwin man. A lovely, lovely piece to read. Thank you and keep telling it from the heart Nathan .. too deadly! – Patricia Chisholm
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