Move Arts Hub to Weston Creek

I support this proposal, mainly because of the opportunities it could open up for kids. If you live in Weston Creek and want your school-age kid to try, say, pottery as an after-school activity, you have to pick them up and drive them to Watson and back once a week. This is a 30 km round trip. I know people who make similar excursions so that their primary school-aged children can do drama during term time. Opportunities like this shouldn't just be for kids whose parents can afford the extra petrol and time off work. There are more kids in Weston Creek than there are in Cook, and people who live in Cook have access to the ANU and other central arts facilities.

POSTEDE BY ADMIN TO MIRROR TEXT IN DISCUSSION TOPIC FOR REPORTING

I am writing in regard to the Arts Hub proposed for Cook. I would like propose that the arts/cultural hub be located instead in Weston Creek.

Weston Creek established in the late 1960’s has enjoyed very little of the development that has been seen in other town centres, including Gungahlin. It has been neglected for many years, the only development proposed is an upgrade to the local shopping centre by the property owner. We don't have a library, a public park, a pool, or even a public toilet (The kids using the skate park in Weston have to use MacDonalds or Cooleman Court).

Local practicing artists

There are a large number of practicing artists living in Weston Creek. Travelling to locations in Mitchell, Dickson, Tuggeranong and even Cook is a long way for local Weston Creek artists to travel and now with high petrol prices, also an expensive journey. Bus travel from Weston Creek to these sites is even more time-consuming and more difficult for artists travelling with materials, or large items such as canvases.

Studio availability in Canberra

 North of the lake there are 35 studios (not including Hawker College which runs an artist-in-resident program which provides one artist with a studio)

 East of the lake there are 30 studios (not including the glassworks)

 South of the lake there are 4 studios

 There are none west of the lake, and

 None in Weston or Woden

Studio spaces in Weston Creek could service suburbs in Weston Creek, as well as potentially Curtin, Lyons, Chifley, Pearce, Yarralumla and the northern end of Tuggeranong. Tuggeranong also faces a lack of studio spaces-the 4 studios in Tuggeranong are very small and in demand.

Potential site

The former CIT School of Horticulture appears to be a good potential site for studios, it has running water, high ceilings, good light, plenty of parking, people can make a bit of noise without disturbing people and in the future, there is scope for an art gallery.

There are 8 primary schools in Weston Creek, the site could be used for visiting groups of students to see artists at work, for school holiday art programs (for example ceramics, to do this school holiday program children have to go to Watson for a half day program).

Any alternative site such as one of the old school sites would also be potentially suitable.

Thank you and regards