JULY 2017 Update on progress re Powerhouse to Parramatta debate: and what you can do now

Dear all,
Consultation through public meetings and an on-line survey (see below):
The Upper House Inquiry into Museums and Galleries in NSW ran to an amazing seven hearings, focussing largely on the questions of whether the long-established Ultimo-based Powerhouse Museum (the primary venue of the Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences) should be transplanted to Parramatta in western Sydney, and what Parramatta audiences themselves might need and want – in the context of museums and galleries support in NSW. We are now waiting for the Report to be presented to Cabinet and Parliament in August, and for the extended business plan to be completed later in the year, before final decisions are made.

There remain considerable concerns about earlier decisions having being made with little or no transparency or consultation with those who understand museums and their audiences; lack of understanding about the MAAS/Powerhouse’s significance as a state museum; little consideration of other options in either location; lack of clarity of the proposed role of MAAS  in Parramatta (which has important local historical sites which must be considered, and does not have an art gallery); lack of clarity about sources of funding not only for buildings but also for future recurrent costs in Parramatta (State/ Council/both?); and the recently reported welcome potential reconsideration for all or part of the Powerhouse remaining in Ultimo (ideally including its overall management), but without details of scope, development and recurrent funding.

See the Powerhouse Museum Alliance website for more information:https://powerhousemuseumalliance.com/find-out-more/a-news-chronology/  (For recent events and issues)
https://powerhousemuseumalliance.com/find-out-more/upper-house-inquiry-museums-and-galleries-submissions-and-transcripts/ (submissions to inquiry)
https://powerhousemuseumalliance.com/what-the-experts-say/  (for a range of papers by informed authors)

What to do now:We should continue to lobby government ministers and local members.
And now, following the Inquiry hearings, a committee within Create NSW is organising ways to present their proposals and gain feedback, to contribute to the extended business plan. They include:

1.0 The MAAS Project: Contribute to on-line surveyWhat is now called ‘The MAAS Project’ https://new.maas.museum/ is offering opportunities for consultation and feedback through public meetings, and also has an on-line survey seeking comments and ideas about options for both a museum in Parramatta and on the current site in Ultimo.  ‘Feedback from consultation will be considered in the development of the extended business case.’ To contribute to the survey, go to:  https://new.maas.museum/consultation/ <https://new.maas.museum/consultation/>  This has been briefly off-line but will be accessible from Monday, 24 July until Friday 18 August.

2.0 Attending Consultation meetings in Parramatta and Ultimo – and contributing questions:Public meetings will be held in Parramatta on 26 July, and in Ultimo on 31 July. See: https://new.maas.museum/consultation/ <https://new.maas.museum/consultation/>  Registrations have now closed, but you can send in ‘your 3 top questions’ to  maas.project@arts.nsw.gov.au <mailto:maas.project@arts.nsw.gov.au>   ‘and these will be answered in the FAQs on the website in the coming weeks’.
Grace Cochrane, 
for Powerhouse Museum Alliance group