Art, heritage important drivers
The power of art and heritage to revitalise the city was the hot topic at last night’s Innov8 Invercargill event.
About 40 people gathered at the Kelvin Hotel for the third instalment of the monthly forum at which people can discuss ideas they are passionate about for Invercargill.
Southern Institute of Technology programme manager visual arts, film and animation Kathryn McCully spoke about the establishment of the Satellite Gallery in Dunedin about 20 years ago.
It was set-up in an empty space in a depressed and shabby area near the Octagon by a group of arts students, including McCully, and was a catalyst for the revival of the area. The area was repopulated and tenants ‘‘who could pay actual rent’’ moved in.
In Cambridge, in the United Kingdom, a community project – which asked for donated materials and labour – had led to the building of a recycled two-storey arts building, McCully said.
‘‘The building cost nothing and people became closely involved.’’
This development of so-called ‘‘soft infrastructure’’ could work well in Invercargill and help people to rethink and reposition their ideas on the relevance of art in the community.
Anderson Park Art Gallery manager and curator Stephen Davies asked people what art brought to the south – and said collections away.
‘‘Art is not just about beauty. It is about how we live and see ourselves.’’
The Anderson Park collection was a valuable regional asset and one of the best ways of seeing the history of our region.
One function of a public art gallery was as a record of time and place, Davies said.
‘‘Who we are collectively and our view of ourselves.’’
Heritage advocate Mick Hesselin spoke about heritage buildings in the city including the Alexandra Buildings, which were a ‘‘real one-off’’, and the Railway Hotel, which was a ‘‘very, very special building’’.
The audience was asked what they thought about heritage buildings, whether they should be saved and, if so, which ones.
Answers ranged from ‘‘save them all’’ to a suggestion of heritage tours in the city.
should
not
be
shut