The Victorian government will have “blood on its hands” if it does not intervene in the closure of the Castlemaine Art Museum, the state’s Opposition has said.
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Former arts minister and now Opposition spokeswoman Heidi Victoria said she was shocked at the gallery’s closure and called on the state government to send in business experts who could nurse the 104-year-old institution back to health.
The gallery’s board of directors announced late last month financial uncertainty and rising costs were behind a decision to indefinitely shut the site.
Ms Victoria said that, during her party’s time in government, Orchestra Victoria was saved from financial peril because of managerial assistance from government staff and similar help should be offered to the gallery.
Read more: No SOS from sinking gallery
State government body Creative Victoria funded the Castlemaine gallery to the tune of $110,000 annually, but it was expertise the MP believed was needed if it was to re-open.
Putting personnel in place would stop taxpayer funds from going to waste, the shadow spokeswoman said, even proposing the state’s Small Business Bus initiative could be deployed to give the gallery advice.
“Sometimes it’s not just about throwing money,” Ms Victoria said.
“There's precedent for the government to intervene, and say 'this is too important to lose'.”
Creative Industries minister Martin Foley this week said his government would “continue to provide support for the museum through this difficult time”.
Read more: Director reflects on gallery closure
“CAM has a passionate community of supporters, locally and across the state, and I hope they too contribute to this process of renewal,” Mr Foley said.
Regional Development Victoria were already working with the gallery on plans for its future when the closure announcement was made late last month.
Regional director Stan Liacos said it was common for the agency to offer such assistance to businesses and tourist attractions in regional Victoria, and support for the gallery would continue into its period of closure.
Ms Victoria feared letting the gallery close came with the risk of losing community support, worsening its financial situation.
“This is an important bit of Victoria and Australia's history,” she said.
“If they (the government) don't do something practical, they’ve got blood on their hands.”
Ms Victoria’s comments came just hours before a town hall meeting of Castlemaine museum members, where it was expected board members would face tough questions about the two-year time-out.
Mark Kearney
Journalist. Traveller. Pop culture connoisseur. Mark is passionate about education, the arts and social justice, especially stories affecting the LGBTI community.
Journalist. Traveller. Pop culture connoisseur. Mark is passionate about education, the arts and social justice, especially stories affecting the LGBTI community.
