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Canberra Today 22°/25° | Friday, March 29, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

Compromise proposal over Fitter’s Workshop

EXHAUSTED by the long-running dispute about use of the Kingston Fitters’ Workshop, Megalo Print Studio has put forward a proposal to the ACT Government to temporarily relocate Megalo from Watson to the Southern Offices, Wentworth Ave, Kingston and begin work on a purpose built print studio and gallery within the Kingston Arts Precinct. 

The disputed Fitters' Workshop
The disputed Fitters’ Workshop
Artistic director Alison Alder has written to ACT Chief Minister Katy Gallagher on behalf of the Megalo Board of Management, reiterating the board’s belief that “the relocation of Megalo to the Fitters Workshop remains the most appropriate course of action and that the Workshop would be a superb location for a print studio and gallery of such national and international standing.”

The letter goes on, “However, the continuing delays show no sign of abating, and indeed are having an increasingly negative impact on Megalo. We are therefore putting forward two new proposals.”

The Board has resolved to work with the Government to move Megalo into temporary premises in specially adapted Southern Offices on Wentworth Avenue, while also working with the Government to design and build a permanent purpose-built home for Megalo in the centre of the Kingston Visual Arts Precinct.

This, they argue,  will enable the board, staff and members to dedicate their  energy to the core business of running an “internationally renowned print studio and gallery…It will bring us closer to Cargill’s Cottage, which is used as a residence for artists from around Australia and overseas.”

Though consistent with the government’s vision for a visual arts hub on the Kingston Foreshore, the compromise proposal certainly looks like  an admission that the ongoing pressure from a section of Canberra’s music community to preserve the Fitters’ Workshop for musical use has borne fruit.

While ACT Arts Minister Joy Burch has supported the use of the Fitters’ Workshop by Megalo, intense opposition from the ACT Liberal and Greens has led to the present stalemate over plans for the JS Murdoch building located next to the Glassworks.

The ACT Government’s reaction has been swift to the request by Megalo Print board for alternate long term accommodation.

At Minister Joy Burch commented that from the outset, the ACT Government’s priority has been to relocate Megalo to what will be the Kingston visual arts precinct as soon as possible.

She said the Government has agreed to undertake the necessary modifications to allow Megalo to move into the temporary premises and will, in the context of the current planning for the precinct, work with Megalo to identify and develop a new purpose-built facility within the arts precinct.

The $3.9m in funding that was appropriated in the 2010-11 Budget to relocate Megalo to the Fitters Workshop will be used to undertake the necessary planning works, and to build a new purpose-built facility for Megalo.

As for the future of the Fitters Workshop, Ms Burch has confirmed that the current work to remove tanks and other decontamination work is to continue, the current development application by is to be withdrawn and consideration of any future use of the Fitters Workshop building will include health and safety assessments.

The Government’s priority, she said, would be to provide a facility for Megalo and funding needs will be reviewed in the light of these changes.

Finally, Ms Burch said, The Fitters Workshop would continue to be an important part of the Kingston Visual Arts precinct, as committed to in the recent election.

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Thank you,

Ian Meikle, editor

Helen Musa

Helen Musa

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