Slow response to support artists

My call for Council to support young and emerging artists by utilising our vacant properties as cheap art studios and galleries elicited a positive response from the Sydney Morning Herald and Clover Moore yesterday. However I can not understand why it will take another 4 months at least for staff to respond to my request with a draft policy. Meanwhile young and inovative artists leave the inner city for the western suburbs.


From Today's SMH
Artists in line for cheap rents
By Sunanda CreaghAugust 19, 2005

Poor artists could be renting vacant council property on the cheap within a year, if a City of Sydney councillor's vision is realised. The council is investigating the possibility of free electricity and subsidised exhibition space for inner-city artists.
At a recent meeting, the Liberal councillor Shayne Mallard moved to expand a review of the council's subsidised accommodation policy, to look at whether artists could use empty council properties on month-to-month leases.
"Something that worries me is the exodus of young new and emerging artists, as well as established artists, because of the increasing value of inner-city property," he said yesterday.
Mallard suggested properties such as the former Sutton's Holden showroom on William Street, which has been empty for 18 months, could be made available at a reduced rent.
He said the council could create a register of artists who could use empty properties under the condition they vacated the premises if a permanent tenant was found.
"I am talking about getting value for properties that are sitting around empty," he said.
The Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, who voted for the amendment, said the council was reviewing all properties suitable for subsidised accommodation and considering requests from other community groups. "As part of this review properties that may be suitable for temporary artists' spaces will be investigated," she said.
"In addition to council officers reviewing subsidised accommodation, Councillor Marcelle Hoff and I have been, with various institutions and individuals interested in the arts, investigating potential permanent accommodation of artists' spaces within the city's local government area."
The council is expected to receive the report early next year.