BIG names in Fremantle’s arts world urged councillors not to extend the tenure of long-term J Shed artists on Wednesday night, arguing the waterfront studios had become closed off to new generations of creatives.

Former Fremantle Arts Centre director Jim Cathcart and Artsource chief executive Peter Grant were among those who spoke against amendments from councillor Fedele Camarda and mayor Ben Lawver that would have given existing tenants extra time before a new expression of interest process begins for the Manjaree precinct at Arthur Head.

The amendments were ultimately not supported by council, which instead backed the officer recommendation outlined in the June 10 agenda item for the ordinary council meeting.

Mr Cathcart urged councillors to “support the report as written”.

“I particularly urge you not to succumb to pressure and lobbying from the existing tenants,” he said.

“We’ve been down this path before many times over many, many years.

“This is a community space, one of the key community spaces of Fremantle.

“This is the opportunity through a fair and open process to re-explore and to reinvigorate what this place can be.”

Mr Cathcart said the city had “lost control” of the precinct by failing to actively manage the tenancies.

“It has succumbed the idea that there are some tenants that are entitled to be there, which is simply not true,” he said.

Artsource chief executive Peter Grant said the issue had become an example other local governments pointed to when resisting calls for more artist studios.

“The current tenants have been in the driver’s seat for decades,” he said.

“I’ve seen no evidence of handing over to either the next generation or the generation after that, who might be the ones who benefit from it now. None.”

Mr Grant said there was enormous unmet demand for affordable creative spaces.

“There are no studios now. We’ve got young people living at home.

“I’ve got a waiting list so long for my buildings, and it’s really hard to get buildings.”

He said council should resist attempts to soften the transition.

“The thing here is not for the council to intervene with any amendments or any concession,” he said.

“The best example you could give for me to help me in my job to help all artists is to say no, we’ve got a process.”

Several speakers, however, urged councillors to retain the current artists in some form.

A statement from Nyoongar artist Sandra Hill, read by photographer Peter Zuvela, said the city was overlooking the Aboriginal collaboration that had already occurred at J Shed over three decades.

She’d been involved in many public artwork commissions with ceramic artist Jenny Dawson.

“I find it utterly astounding that the city of Fremantle wishes to create a new Aboriginal-led type of precinct at J Shed, when it has actually been functioning as exactly that for the last 30 years,” the statement said.

“Instead of evicting them, why don’t you seriously look at the value of these artists staying where they are.”

Former South West Aboriginal Sea Council chair and the City’s Aboriginal liaison officer Brendan Moore backed the broader vision for change, while calling for a staged transition.

“We have a reconciliation action plan that you’re all committed to,” he said.

“We have a Fremantle Rap Reconciliation Action Plan group that are behind having an engaged artist precinct involving Aboriginal people.”

Mr Moore warned delaying the transition another three years could damage relationships with Aboriginal artists seeking greater involvement in fabrication and installation work tied to the precinct.

He also down-played Ms Hill’s role at the J-Shed, saying she did designs, but “95 per cent” of the grunt work to turn them into public artworks wasn’t done by Aboriginal people.

Mr Moore said there were no recognised Indigenous ceramic artists in Fremantle: “Where’s the mentoring?” he asked.

Councillor Camarda said he was disappointed by the divide exposed during debate.

“My proposed amendments are designed to simplify the process, as well as allow some breathing space for the long-term tenants,” he said.

“I believe that the current timelines in the report, in terms of the delivery of the expression of interest process, are unreasonable.”

Mayor Ben Lawver also backed a slower transition.

“The idea that we would not support a transition for people after that long of a career in those spaces, to me, is kind of appalling,” he said.

“It just says let’s do it in a way that provides a little bit of respect and dignity for people that have been there 33 years.”

Councillor Jemima Williamson-Wong said opening the precinct to new applicants was consistent with years of community consultation and strategic planning.

“There are many, many artists waiting for the opportunity to access spaces, and it just has not been possible for the last 30 years in our J Shad,” she said.

She noted public engagement on the Manjaree vision found strong support for “shared, affordable, hireable, and mixed tenancy length spaces for creative and community use to benefit more people”.

by STEVE GRANT