Four of the five candidates contesting this month’s ward three by-election in Newcastle, have pledged their support to redevelop the art gallery.
Independent candidate Arjay Martin didn’t sign the pledge, instead suggesting some of the gallery’s collection should be sold to help with the cost of the $21-million project.
Gallery supporters attending this morning’s declaration labelled Mr Martin as out of touch.
The election will be held on February 21.
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Mr Martin has noooooo idea about how the art gallery works. All he talked about was potholes and selling the gallery’s artwork to pay for the fixing of the potholes. (A lot of this artwork is not allowed to be sold as it was donated to the city !).
If the government is spending millions of dollars on making Newcastle so wonderful and revitalised, then shouldn’t the city’s major art gallery look wonderful as well ? It ‘was’ promised a facelift a long time ago !
Other city’s have long realised, that by having an important and respected infrastructure such as a well designed art gallery, it will indeed bring more people in to the city (locals and tourists).
Its not just about a painting on the wall, its about what this culture can bring to our city.
I never said to sell the artworks in order to fix pot holes. My premises were, there is a difference between ‘nice to have’ wants, and essential needs. The Council does not have the money for the art gallery and essentials – hence Special Variation Rate Rises. So should concentrate on the essentials. That if need be the Gallery could sell some of the thousands of pieces of art that never gets to see the light of day in that gallery, but could in other galleries. That there is no parking as it is, let alone for an expanded gallery. Etc.
No I didn’t Clarice.
Here is what each of the Candidates had to say:
Newcastle City Council Ward 3 By Election-watch the Candidates. Newcastle Art Gallery http://youtu.be/ultRxbmEICk