Museums and galleries in New South Wales - interim report tabled ... Monday 18 December 2017

FIRSTLY A RESPONSE

Hi All,

Government spending on projects that should not even be under consideration, and have no bearing on other more important public services, eg, transport, health and education, seem to be the flavour of the month.

Here is a link to an interim report on the relocation of the Powerhouse museum from Ultimo to Parramatta.

If you have a few minutes, ( quite a few ) it is worth the read to fully grasp the goverment's total incompetence in understanding the value of the museum as it is and where it currently is located.

To me, the Powerhouse Museum is ideally located on the light rail line, easy walking to Chinatown and Darling Harbour and most definitely within the  "arts and culture ribbon" of Sydney.

To me, it is a money grab to sell the site to developers at the expense of our scientific, cultural and artistic heritage.

As custodians of horological items of all ages and from all historic periods we are in effect "micro museums"  and we should appreciate the need to have large, well maintained, museums freely open and available to all to appreciate the inventiveness and artist skills of our predecessors.

Personally I believe relocating the Powerhouse Museum  is a false economy both financially and socially. As a boy I remember visiting the Applied Arts and Sciences Museum on Harris St., Ultimo, not far from the current Powerhouse Museum and being enthralled by the interactive glass-cased displays on view. That old build still exists, and I believe should be drawn back into the Museum as it is in itself an historic building.

Having visited many countries I am always excited at how they have a mindset for preserving their past in complete opposite to Australia's attitude of "knock down and rebuild" in ignorance of cultural, social, scientific and artistic value to the nation.

Read this report. Go to the website highlighted in blue in the following message below.

Can the Horological clubs of Australia help stop this national degradation of our country's past and help preserve it for the future? I think so, and the clubs should be more vocal in support of any move to do so.

Lindsay Bramall.

"Portfolio Committee 4"  PortfolioCommittee4@parliament.nsw.gov.au

Museums and galleries in New South Wales - interim report tabled

Inquiry into museums and galleries in New South Wales

It is my pleasure to announce the release of the interim report of Portfolio Committee No. 4 – Legal Affairs, entitled Museums and galleries in New South Wales.  The report was tabled in the with the Clerk of the Parliaments on  ... Monday 18 December 2017. 

The report is available on our website, along with submissions, transcripts of evidence and other documents associated with the inquiry. 

The report and its recommendations are now with the government for consideration. The government is required to respond to the recommendations within six months. 

You will be advised of the government response when it has been received.

On behalf of the committee, I take this opportunity to thank you for your contribution to the inquiry. 

The committee has been greatly assisted by these contributions and we appreciate the time and effort taken by all those who have helped us with this important inquiry.

Yours sincerely

Hon Robert Borsak MLC
Chair

PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE NO.4 Report 35 - December 2017


Recommendations 

Recommendation 1 5 
That the NSW Government ensure there is an annual event where free entry to all of the state’s key cultural institutions is promoted and provided to all members of the public.

Recommendation 2 10 
That the NSW Government review the cost and benefits of the annual efficiency dividend for art and cultural institutions.

Recommendation 3 14 
That Create NSW prioritise the digitisation of collections in its policies and frameworks, and explore avenues for further investment in the digitisation of state cultural collections.

Recommendation 4 36
That the NSW Government release the full business case for the Powerhouse Museum and all assessed proposals to the committee and the community for full public consultation before making its final decision.

Recommendation 5 36
That the Premier re-consider her refusal to attend and appear before the inquiry.

Recommendation 6 36
That the business case prepared by the NSW Government consider establishing a Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences satellite site in Western Sydney.

Recommendation 7 37
That the NSW Government consider investing in a cultural precinct proposal for Western Sydney, such as a migration museum or cultural centre, to be identified during a community consultation process.

Recommendation 8 37
That the NSW Government consider a range of other Western Sydney sites for a cultural centre or precinct.

Recommendation 9 42
That the Minister for Arts and Create NSW update the Create in NSW: NSW Arts and Cultural Policy Framework, to expressly include support and capacity building for regional museums and galleries.

Recommendation 10 47
That Create NSW, in partnership with Museums and Galleries of NSW:
a) review and expand funding grants and programs for projects, capital works, and maintenance in rural and regional museums and galleries
b) ensure a minimum percentage of grant and program funding is allocated to rural art and cultural facilities
c) examine the restrictions on the allocations of the Regional Cultural Fund and investigate expanding the funds availability and making it accessible for specific programs and staffing needs.

Recommendation 11 50
That Create NSW, in partnership with state institutions, introduce a subsidised loans scheme to support regional cultural institutions in acquiring suitable touring exhibitions.

Recommendation 12 51
That Create NSW develop a strategy, in consultation with key stakeholders, to enhance the capacity of regional cultural institutions to undertake digitisation projects.

Recommendation 13 52 
That Create NSW collaborate with community managed museums and galleries to develop strategies to recruit and train volunteers, including:
a) a peer-to-peer best practice training manual for volunteers
b) a media campaign to promote volunteering at community museums and galleries.

Recommendation 14 54
That the NSW Government:
a) engage with Aboriginal elders, communities and key stakeholders, to establish how best to capture the history, art and culture of Aboriginal people in New South Wales
b) identify and invest in opportunities to further promote Aboriginal arts, culture and history in existing cultural institutions
c) ensure that the management and control of any Aboriginal art and culture centre and its collections be in the hands of the Aboriginal peoples of New South Wales.