I went to see "driving into walls" this evening and it was great! 10/10, I really recomend it to you guys - it finishes Saturday I think.

So I was at Red Hill Auditorium tonight. In my 20 years of life I have never experienced a car park quite that bad. It took an hour and a half to get out. Ridiculous. Granted they do provide a pretty extensive shuttle bus service from about 15 Perth pubs, but that is $15 or $20.

The venue is ok. Great location. Done on the cheap. Great view.

So I was at Red Hill Auditorium tonight. In my 20 years of life I have never experienced a car park quite that bad. It took an hour and a half to get out. Ridiculous. Granted they do provide a pretty extensive shuttle bus service from about 15 Perth pubs, but that is $15 or $20.

The venue is ok. Great location. Done on the cheap. Great view.

The approval process for that venue took 11 years and several different incarnations. I don't think traffic and the parking area where ever substantive issues, which is interesting given your comments.

^Maybe it needed another 11 years...

Look it's a great spot and the amphitheater and stage etc is good. Heaps of food and drink options. Access and event management needs a lot of work. I think last night may have been the first time they've sold out.

Amazing gig though.

There was a glowing review of PIAF in the Fin Review last week (sorry, can't scan at the moment).

The media over this way is really starting to hop on the 'Perth is the happening place' bandwagon now. Hopefully there are enough big events in the pipeline to keep the momentum up for a few years so it leaves a lasting impact on the city.

Yeah that was a good read. Also quite a serious push for higher arts finding from business.

Rooftop movies seem to be doing well. Some selling out well in advance.

I went to see "driving into walls" this evening and it was great! 10/10, I really recomend it to you guys - it finishes Saturday I think.

There was a feature on this on Radio National last week. Sounded really interesting.

crave i k now youre a bit of a whitney fan, check this out, i think it's a brilliant version of the song

http://soundcloud.com/jeremysole/ripwhitney

does anyone knwo if soundcloud can be embedded in ssc?

not bad sanj. don't think ssc allows soundcloud embedding...

How can urban spaces be transformed to become vibrant, productive and dynamic community assets? How can creativity be leveraged to help cities achieve their potential and generate positive social, cultural and economic benefits?

FORM is bringing to Perth an international leader in transforming spaces and communities through creative activity: Tim Jones, President and CEO of Artscape Toronto, and winner of the 2010 Global City Award for the Canadian Urban Institute's Urban Leadership Awards.

Artscape unlocks the creative potential of people and places to build vibrant, resilient and inclusive communities. it has become sought after internationally for this expertise and is one of the few organisations that have figured out how to cut through the rhetoric of the creative cities agenda to deliver sustainable creative communities on the ground.

Join us Monday 12th March in His Majesty's Theatre, 825 Hay Street, for a presentation to hear Tim's insights from his work transforming vital spaces and places in Toronto, Canada, and contributing to the city's broader creative and development strategies.

RSVP Essential by March 9th
Contact FORM by telephone-92262799 or email rsvp@form.net.au

http://formwa.myfullseat.com/events/...with-Tim-Jones

They cannot be transformed. Once the Esplanade is gone it's all over!

Soooo went to Future Music Festival on Sunday. Last one ever!

I saw so many fights it was ridiculous, they got way too close for comfort. Heaps of roid junkies strutting around off their face. Skrillex had to stop halfway through his set because there was a brawl in the crowd and he wouldn't play until is was broken up (he was pleading with them to stop on the mic).

Too many people, too many fucked up meth head bogans. I don't think the majority of the people even went for the music.

Oh well, I'm getting too old for that shit anyway. I was thinking it was going to be my last, now I know for sure. I can't believe the evolution (or devolution) of the electonic music scene. It used to attract nerds andlike minded friendly people who went for the music, the drugs and the 5 hour long talks with total strangers. Never a fight to be seen.

Sad.

Meh festivals are shit. Give me a smallish gig in an intimate venue anyday.

I guess my point was they used to be good. Why does popularity ruin everything? Guess that just backs up my theory that popularity is shit.

Pretty much.

But the people who are having fights probably think that it is good! When it all quiets down in a few years they'll be looking back on the halcyon days of the electronic music scene in the early 2010's when you could go out, get off your face and almost certainly end up in a fight...

But the people who are having fights probably think that it is good! When it all quiets down in a few years they'll be looking back on the halcyon days of the electronic music scene in the early 2010's when you could go out, get off your face and almost certainly end up in a fight...

Remind me of the Lookout in the 90s.

Remind me of the Lookout in the 90s.

Ahhh... the memories.

I also seem to remember getting rat-faced at a Supergrass concert in the late 90's at Metro Fremantle...

I got kicked out of the Lookout :?. I was happy about it.

I guess my point was they used to be good. Why does popularity ruin everything? Guess that just backs up my theory that popularity is shit.

I went to my first one last year and hated it. No one is there for the music. They're there because everyone else is and they want to be part of the big group.

I got kicked out of the Lookout :?. I was happy about it.

:lol:

I went to my first one last year and hated it. No one is there for the music. They're there because everyone else is and they want to be part of the big group.

You missed out on when it was good. At least I had that.

The lookout lol. That place was a shocker. What about where NB Piazza is now when it used to be the Pallas Hotel. Had some good times there.

Steves on a Wed night was great too.

I went to my first one last year and hated it. No one is there for the music. They're there because everyone else is and they want to be part of the big group.

Were you there for the music?

Thankfully the people I experienced at the few times I went to the City Muster country music festival (which IMO should be brought back as it was GREAT) were not fighting with each other or causing trouble.

Meh festivals are shit. Give me a smallish gig in an intimate venue anyday.

On this line of thought, saw Gotye at Le Bataclan when I was in Paris last week. Was nice to see him where he's not quite so big (although I'm getting sick of hearing STIYTK everywhere I go, not that I wasn't already last year). Set list was perfect IMO!

Sounds pretty cool:

Light spectacular for Perth
Beatrice Thomas, The West Australian
Updated March 7, 2012, 3:00 am
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Light spectacular for Perth
Famed French composer, performer and music producer Jean Michel Jarre will bring his outdoor lighting and sound extravaganza to Perth on November 17 in the biggest open-air performance to be staged in the city.

Confirming details of Rendez-Vous Perth, organiser Maryanne Bell said yesterday the concert would transform Langley Park, attracting up to 80,000 people at the reserve along with a global TV audience.

With Jarre's concerts described as "hijacking an entire city for one night", Ms Bell said people could expect the feature lighting, laser choreography, videos and fireworks synonymous with his work.

"Anything Jean Michel does he doesn't do lightly," she said.

"It's always big and quite spectacular. Sydney and Melbourne are very annoyed that this is happening in Perth."

Described as a pioneer in the electronic, synthpop, ambient and new age genres, Jarre, 63, has staged concerts for up to 3.5 million people.

He has performed in locations such as Place de la Concorde in Paris, Egypt's Pyramids of Giza and Monaco, where he performed for Prince Albert's wedding.

Ms Bell, an entrepreneur and founder of ITM Productions, predicted the concert would rival the Australia Day Skyworks and the Leeuwin Concert for size and prestige, with international visitors, celebrities and dignitaries expected to fly in.

The concert will be free but about 8000 VIP tickets will be sold.

Ms Bell said a gala ball would be held at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre after the two-hour spectacular.

Ms Bell said Jarre "adored Perth" and believed it was a perfect location for his show.

The City of Perth will decide on approvals for the event at its council meeting next Tuesday.

Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi said the city "loves the idea".

"This event potentially brings a greater global awareness to our city," she said. "He has a huge global following."

Ms Bell said she hoped the State Government would support the event, which costs millions of dollars to stage.

Follow thewest.com.au on Twitte
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/breaking/13101316/light-spectacular-for-perth/

Were you there for the music?

Yes lol. Would have gone to Future Music too (A lot of bands in there I love) - but it's full of dickheads :P

Thankfully the people I experienced at the few times I went to the City Muster country music festival (which IMO should be brought back as it was GREAT) were not fighting with each other or causing trouble.

Country music festivals are notorious for fighting...

OMG omg omg

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/world/13106455/sim-city-gets-rebuilt-for-2013-with-modern-look/


'Sim City' gets rebuilt for 2013 with modern look

Liana B. Baker, ReutersMarch 7, 2012, 10:18 am

SAN FRANCISCO, March 6 (Reuters) - "Sim City" is going back to its roots. The classic city building game that first came out in 1989, is returning next year in a new version that has a modern-day look and feel but is being built by those who worked on the original.

Lucy Bradshaw, senior vice president of gamemaker Electronic Arts' Maxis Label which was behind the hits "Sim City 2000" and "Sim City 3000," said both purists and newcomers should enjoy the upcoming game that she described as the most realistic "Sim City" title yet.

The studio has not put out a Sims game since "Sims 4" in 2004, but Bradshaw said EA had been considering reinventing the game for years. The new PC game will be out sometime in 2013.

"Anytime we'd release any Sims game, the first comment from fans on the Internet would be 'please make Sim City,' she said.

The new game, which was unveiled at this week's Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, will be brought up to current-day speed with environmental issues affecting construction and mayors dealing with climate change, renewable energy and natural disasters as they build their cities.

Decisions as a city builder will have more pronounced effects on Sim City residents than ever. If a player chooses to make a town economically reliant on coal mining, for example, the city will have to invest in building hospitals to keep residents from getting sick and fleeing.

"The choices that you make will affect the lives of the Sims who are there," Bradshaw said, "and you might start to see some residents protesting at City Hall."

What happens in one city can also affect a friend's town. The game will have online features where one person can play side by side with friends who are mayors of their own cities. All players globally can compete in rankings to be the greenest, the dirtiest, the fittest, or the best city in which to live.

Even though it's been years since the last "Sim City" game, the market for building games has not gone away. Zynga's "CityVille" game on Facebook has shown that millions of people want to control their own towns and work with their friends at the same time.

When asked about "CityVille," Bradshaw said the new simulation technology powering the game called "GlassBox" which EA is showing off this week at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, is in a league of its own.

"We invented the genre and it's so far ahead of any city builder game I've ever seen," she said.

While "Sim City" tackles urban planning issues, Bradshaw said the team made sure to design twists that players won't find in any textbook. "While it is about managing your resources correctly, a giant lizard may troll around the corner and take out a few buildings and you'll have to deal with that." (Reporting By Liana Baker; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)

OMFG MY LIFE IS COMPLETE

Yes lol. Would have gone to Future Music too (A lot of bands in there I love) - but it's full of dickheads :P

So there was at least one person who was there for the music...I'm sure there were a few others...

Yay! More SimCity info here:
http://www.simcity.com/en_US/game/overview

Thank god, curvey roads + the old zoning system. Should work a treat unlike Cities XL

CoP approved the Jean Michel Jarre thing. Looks like it'll happen.

WHEN WILL THIS BE

I NEED TO BOOK THE NIGHT OFF WORK

TELL ME NOW SHIT OH MAN

17 of november i believe

Crave?

At the Astor in May, with Bell Biv DeVoe.


i7P6ut6HPR8

BBD Fresh Prince of Bel Air cameo...

kUv-b1zTSVs

Article some might find interesting...
http://www.oneperth.com.au/2012/03/22/graff-art-goes-underground/

im too crook to go to KRS one tonight so if anyone wants a ticket pls let me know, i can email mine to you

FOC

very very annoyed i cant go, have wanted to see him for well over a decade

Good news!

Win Rooftop Movies Season 2 passes

* From: PerthNow
* March 26, 2012 3:56PM

The second season of Rooftop Movies was announced last week; the program of classic, cult and contemporary films continues until 28 April.

Rooftop Movies is located at the top of the Roe Street Car Park in Northbridge and is brought to you by Artrage (the producers of FRINGE WORLD).

Live entertainments pre and post screening make Rooftop Movies a night out that's comfortable, convenient and easy on the pocket. Drive in. Park downstairs. Ride the elevator to the roof. Easy.

$10 entry or $15 for double features - add $8 and park your car downstairs all night.

Head to www.rooftopmovies.com.au for more details on what's screening.

To win one of fifteen double passes, simply complete your details and sign-up to receive the PerthNow newsletter to win. Good luck.

http://www.perthnow.com.au/fun-games/win-rooftop-movies-season-2-passes/story-e6frg473-1226310637588

I sent my parents to this on friday, the had a great time even though it was a tad cold.

Yeah it sounds like it has been really successful. Certainly enough to mean another season next summer.

State Theatre is running tours every half hour on O-Day this Sunday, for those who haven't seen it yet.

the state theatre has some lights out in the flytower, it always looks really dull. the walkable public art at the entry is also slightly broken and bits of it are covered up with wood panels - it's been like that for months, would be refreshing to see some urgency one of these days.

Sounds like a blatant rip off to me. Would have easily picked it out without reading the article if I had heard the Goodram song.

http://www.perthnow.com.au/entertainment/delta-goodrems-sitting-on-top-of-the-world-allegedly-musically-similar-to-arcade-fires-2005-song-rebellion-lies/story-e6frg30c-1226342498486

oi crave, i get the feeling this mix might be a bit nostalgic for you, check it out!

http://soundcloud.com/madmats/take-me-back-mad-mats-early-90s-classics-rebounce-mix

years after seeing him mad mats remains one of the best djs ive seen live, if not the very best. have had the pleasure of seeing him 3 times, amazing eveytime. has a really vast and varied collection, this one is purely 90s

speaking of dj's and mixes...

why is girltalk so popular?? his mixes are truuable (charles barkley accent!!)

2manydjs > Girltalk.

er i just noticed that post from nate about ginuwine/bellbiv, he was on it back in march!... think i'm gonna end up going on my own, got no one wanting to go. bobby brown might pop up. ha.

sanj, i'll have a listen when i gets home... :>

er i just noticed that post from nate about ginuwine/bellbiv, he was on it back in march!

Yeah I'm on it Crave ;)

I'm not going, but Pony is solid gold quality 90's RnB fo sho

(also, it's been rescheduled for August = I won't be in Perth)

er i just noticed that post from nate about ginuwine/bellbiv, he was on it back in march!... think i'm gonna end up going on my own, got no one wanting to go. bobby brown might pop up. ha.

sanj, i'll have a listen when i gets home... :>

u can go with my wifey, she wants to go. :lol:

Damn this is some sad new:
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/beastie-boys-co-founder-adam-yauch-dead-at-48-20120504?stop_mobi=yes

Source (http://www.perthnow.com.au/stefano-carboni-masterminds-marilyn-coup/story-fn8ou527-1226347621602)


Stefano Carboni masterminds Marilyn coup
by: Maria Noakes From: The Sunday Times May 05, 2012 5:00PM

http://resources3.news.com.au/images/2012/05/05/1226347/622075-picasso-to-warhol-fourteen-modern-masters.jpg
Andy Warhol: Campbells Soup Cans, 1962. Picture: Art Gallery of Western Australia. Source: PerthNow

THE big screen's greatest sex siren is bound for Perth.

In a major coup for WA, Andy Warhol's prints of Marilyn Monroe will feature alongside priceless works by the 20th century's most influential artists in an Australian-first exhibition, from next month.

The exhibition, Picasso to Warhol: Fourteen Modern Masters, is from New York's Museum of Modern Art. It also includes paintings by Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse.

It marks the first of a series of six exhibitions from MoMA which will visit the Art Gallery of WA over the next three years in an exclusive event for the southern hemisphere.

Art Gallery of WA director Stefano Carboni brokered the deal with MoMA's director, Glenn D. Lowry.

"I really think that it's a privilege that an institution like MoMA, with the depth of the collection that they have, is willing and interested and actually very supportive and enthusiastic to collaborate with the Art Gallery of WA," he said.

While the gallery wouldn't put a price tag on the exhibition, which includes more than 100 artworks, last year a painting by Picasso sold for more than $20.7 million and in 2010 one of Warhol's Campbell's Soup Cans paintings went under the hammer in New York for more than $23 million.

The exhibition also features works by Romanian sculptor Constantin Brancusi, abstract painter Piet Mondrian, French cubist Fernand Leger, surrealist Marcel Duchamp and pop artist Jasper Johns works that have shaped and changed the contemporary art landscape.

"Every time I look at these works I still get a chill down my back," Dr Lowry said. "There's nothing like putting great artworks together in a room and being able to experience it. No photographic or digital reproduction can ever capture the kind of exhilaration that comes when you're surrounded by these objects."

The following five exhibitions will showcase a significant selection of works from each of MoMA's curatorial departments, including design and photography.

Picasso to Warhol: Fourteen Modern Masters. June 15-December 3. Tickets $19, concession $16 from Ticketek

http://resources3.news.com.au/images/2012/05/06/1226347/877243-marilyn-monroe.jpg

Should be a good exhibit.

Every Friday night they have opening late and having live music and a bar as well.

The bar sell milk only though.

But it has to be HiLo and can't be given emotive names.

Olive green cartons with no advertising.

there's only one warhol print i'd like... :p

http://en.amorosart.com/image-work-warhol_myths_mammy-22666-450-450.jpg

I photographed this Warhol series last year at Kerry Stokes' private collection in West Perth.

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/4914/kerrystokesartcollectio.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/221/kerrystokesartcollectio.jpg/)

I just don't get it.

Source (http://www.perthnow.com.au/business/2012-state-budget/m-for-new-museum-in-perth-cultural-centre/story-fndotr3v-1226359098544)



$428m for new museum in Perth Cultural Centre
by: Ashlee Mullany
From: PerthNow
May 18, 20122:00PM

http://resources0.news.com.au/images/2012/05/17/1226359/124084-pn-perth-museum.jpg
NEW MUSEUM: The State Government has allocated $428 million for a new museum, at Perth Cultural Centre.

A NEW $428 million museum will be built at the Perth Cultural Centre after the State Government announced initial funding for the project.

Planning for the long-awaited building is expected to start this year, with $71 million allocated over three years in today’s State Budget.

The bulk of the funds will be rolled out from the 2013-14 financial year but the project isn’t scheduled for completion until 2019 or 2020.

Treasurer Christian Porter said the museum would be part of the State Government’s plans to “build the city from the ground up.”

He said the new building in the Northbridge cultural precinct would form part of a “five-point star” around the city, encompassing other major projects such as the Perth Waterfront and Burswood stadium.

Funding for major community projects in the budget included an extra $200 million towards the 60,000 seat sport stadium, which is due for completion in 2018-19.

$167 million will also be spent on continuing work on the Perth Waterfront.

The WA Institute of Sport will also receive a new facility at a cost of $32 million over the next three years.

Not happy it's been pushed back a few years. I wonder what $428m will buy us.

Scheduled for completion 2019/20 = actually completed not before 2022/23.

That's being optimistic.

It's a bit of a joke even announcing it now.

It's not an announcement. It was announced a while back. This is actually announcing a three year delay to a project that has already been receiving funding. They just don't want to put it in those words.

boooooooo.

The announcement of the museum funding completes Labor's entire original checklist. It seems Barney just redrew the cards, shuffled them again, dealt them in a different order, then popped a cherry on top and called them his own. Still, they had more chance seeing the light of day than under the endlessly-deferring Carpenter government.

This was the generic letter I received today from WA Museum CEO Alec Coles:

Embargoed until 11am Friday 18 May 2012.

Dear Dallas,

As you may be aware, the State Budget was handed down in Parliament today and I am delighted to inform you that the Government has identified the new museum as a major capital project in the forward estimates.

This is an outstanding outcome for the State and one that will deliver a wonderful new cultural facility. It will also result in, not only the largest development in the Museum’s history, but I believe one of the most significant museum redevelopments currently being delivered in the southern hemisphere.

The Government’s $428.3 million investment will see a new state-of-the-art museum constructed on the current Perth site that will integrate with the refurbished heritage buildings, continuing the Museum’s 121 year history at this location.

This is a project of unprecedented scale for the WA Museum and construction is estimated to be completed in 2019-20.

As you can imagine we are delighted with this announcement and we are looking forward to developing a world class facility for Western Australia.

Our vision will see the new museum as the flagship museum for Western Australia showcasing the importance of our State; of our heritage, history and incredible biodiversity.

It will be a gateway to the whole of Western Australia and will utilise new technologies to link into those areas.

It will be an inspiring place where Western Australians and visitors, alike, can explore our identity, culture and sense of place through our collections, exhibitions, activities and public programs.

At the heart of our new museum will be the concept of identity- Who are we? Where do we come from? What are our shared heritages? How do we understand ourselves, each other, and our place in the world?

These questions will be explored through our major galleries based around the over-arching themes of; Being Western Australian, Discovering Western Australia and Exploring the World.

The museum will also include an interactive and experiential collections facility that aims to connect our collections and staff with visitors, and will enable them to see the important research, investigation and conservation going on behind the scenes at the WA Museum.

In developing the exhibitions and galleries that will appear in the new museum we will be starting an ongoing dialogue with people from around WA to gain further insight, debate ideas and identify the types of stories and objects that the community wants to see.

The new museum will be a museum for everyone and we will be encouraging participation and a diversity of views in its development.

We will also start the process of identifying and preparing the specimens and artefacts for the new museum, particularly the Blue Whale skeleton which will be a main attraction in the new building.

The State Government is committed to a competitive tender process to design and construct the new museum and, through the Department of Treasury’s Strategic Projects team and our colleagues at the Department of Culture and the Arts, we will invite local and international architects to bid for the project.

I look forward to sharing this unique journey as we seek to create something that not only will be a milestone in WA’s cultural history, but one that will become a world class destination in its own right.


Kindest regards,

Alec Coles OBE
Chief Executive Officer

I really am hoping for some interesting designs and an open design process.

The announcement of the museum funding completes Labor's entire original checklist. It seems Barney just redrew the cards, shuffled them again, dealt them in a different order, then popped a cherry on top and called them his own. Still, they had more chance seeing the light of day than under the endlessly-deferring Carpenter government.

Nothings been done with the east perth power station yet.

An article from today's Australian - darn their paid subscriptions! Clearly I'm not a great tearer of newspapers...

http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/928/ccf1805201200000.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/42/ccf1805201200000.jpg/)

Film clip of the Year?
http://vimeo.com/38873171

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/breaking/13721603/museum-complex-on-track-for-2020/

There's some really good stuff on Vimeo

Film clip of the Year?
http://vimeo.com/38873171

Now that's a music video. Incredible.

what I have been spending all my spare time of for the past 6 months. working on an R&B project.

have a listen and let me know if you like it? :-D


http://beatsbygabe.bandcamp.com/album/fxck-love-get-faded

http://beatsbygabe.bandcamp.com/album/demo

baller, you should consider an r&b project targeted for my peoples... kthanx.

baller, you should consider an r&b project targeted for my peoples... kthanx.

Filos?? :lol:

I have another sing I have started working with. Very Robin Thicke!

Labor would shelve future fund: McGowan
Daniel Emerson, The West Australian
May 23, 2012, 5:01 pm
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Labor in government would shelve the future fund and new museum indefinitely, Opposition Leader Mark McGowan announced today as he accused the Government of ignoring the present day struggles of WA communities.

Mr McGowan used his parliamentary speech in response to last week’s Budget to criticise its centrepiece, the future fund, as illogically timed and full of contradictions.

That allowed the Government to highlight the Opposition’s own confused stance, pointing out shadow arts minister John Hyde released a media statement three days before the Budget calling for the museum to be funded.

Mr McGowan questioned the Government’s justification of investing $1.1 billion of “seed capital” in the fund by 2014-15 when Premier Colin Barnett said eight weeks ago WA’s declining GST share meant public services had to be cut.

He also queried the logic of a future fund when State debt had risen under the Government from $3.4 billion to $18.6 billion.

“In 2016 the future fund will be creating $55 million in net interest,” Mr McGowan said.

“In the same year, the taxpayers will be paying $1.15 billion in net interest costs. That’s the equivalent of one new sports stadium per year used for debt repayments.”

Mr McGowan said investment today in regional roads, public transport in Perth suburbs and science and innovation would benefit future generations far more than a future fund.

He accused the Government of becoming “obsessed with its city-centric projects” including the waterfront, riverside and Perth City Link, which had been allocated a combined $544 million in the Budget and out years.

Arts Minister John Day used question time to goad Mr Hyde over his pre-Budget press release, saying Labor’s plans for the museum would “cause a lot of disgust in the arts community”.

Mr McGowan retorted: “You can go with your woolly mammoth. We’re going to build new police stations.”

Treasurer Christian Porter said Mr McGowan “just didn’t get” the future fund.

“If you are concerned about debt, and instead of leaving $1.1 billion in an account in 2015-16 you spend $1.1 billion … what happens in 2015-16 is this: You increase debt by $1.1 billion,” he said.

“(State Labor) the only political party in history that thinks that you decrease debt by spending 1.1 billion and not saving it.”
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/breaking/13763453/labor-would-shelve-future-fund-mcgowan/

McGowan gets elected their will be a police station on every corner, 5 min express train services from Rockingham to Perth and the CBD will look something like it did 10 years ago. He's got my vote

Well that makes things easier!

lol. John Hyde has been quiet about McGowans plan to indefinitely delay the new museum. He's even in one the local rags this week with a sad face at the gates of the site saying how it's unacceptable with 2020 being so far.

“(State Labor) the only political party in history that thinks that you decrease debt by spending 1.1 billion and not saving it.”

:lol:

this idiot is unbelievable. we've had decades of the cbd being neglected and now he claims all the attention is on it at the expense of the suburbs

This "Won't somebody please think of the suburbs!" strategy is clearly the one they'll be basing their campaign on, and I'm sick of it already. "City-centric" projects like the new museum benefit the whole city, not just the 11k people who live in the CoP. Despite opposition to projects like the Waterfront I doubt anyone will swallow that line, at least not enough to win him an election anyway.

Scheduled for completion 2019/20 = actually completed not before 2022/23.

That's being optimistic.

Perth is the most easily predictable city on Earth.

Here's some more:

First apartment ready at Waterfront: 2021

Genuine small bar reforms : never

I love what Terry Waldon came out with the other day. He wants to change the small bar laws so applicants don't need to prove it is in the public interest, but prove it is not in the public disinterest. That is some Yes, Minister shit right there.

Bahahaha. double negatives ftw lol.

I find it bizarre that Labor went from being progressive under Carpenter (Waterfront, NBL, Museum, focus on the arts, Daylight Savings, Deregulated shopping hours) to the exact opposite under this dick nozzle. Politics used to be so definable, primarily around opposite views on finance and social issues. Now there is no backbone on either side - apparently it pays just to decide on Polling day. They've made swinging voters out of the entire state. I'm becoming more and more comfortable with the idea that I'll vote Liberal for the first time ever at the next State election.

i know how you feel, i came to a similiar realisation at the last election where i voted for labor for the first time. i felt a bit dirty doing so but the alternative was worse, or at least was at the time

I'll gladly be voting Lib for the first time at the next State election also. Ultimately it really comes down to the leader. There's crazies on both sides, just need to have someone to keep them in line. I mean can you imagine if John Hyde actually became planning minister or something. jesus.

It's been a great four weeks for new music for me - been looking forward to these new albums for ages:

Keane - Strangeland
Marina and the Diamonds - Electra Heart
Gossip - A Joyful Noise
Ladyhawke - Anxiety
The Temper Trap - The Temper Trap
Silversun Pickups - The Neck of the Woods

I wish I had taste in music like that... I'm so mainstream, it's actually really annoying that nothing slightly off centre appeals to me. Mix94.5 has trained me well...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLUX0y4EptA&ob=av3n is about as indie as I get, and even then, I couldn't do what you've done and say 'I will probably like this album because it's by x artist'... I tend to like individual songs... #fwp

In the UK half those bands are mainstream lol.

I was going to say they are fairly close to being mainstream. But I guess they are way out there for commercial radio which will probably play some of it in 20 years time.

I personally like listening to music as albums rather than the hit (or minor hit) singles.

I am so jealous of Vivid Sydney.

Oh well I've only really heard of 2 of them... I mean they may be mainstream, I guess I meant more 'commercial'... those songs you don't really hear on the radio. Though, the other day, I was mightily impressed 96fm played some Cake.

Great day at the WAM Saturday Spectacular this arvo. Kinda felt like what I would imagine SXSW would be like with live music coming out of heaps of different bars in the middle of the day.
Enjoy tonight to all that are going!

From Wiki - further details about new SimCity...

SimCity (2013 video game)

Release date: February 2013

SimCity is an upcoming city-building/urban planning simulation computer game in development by Maxis, a subsidiary of Electronic Arts. It is a reboot of the SimCity series. The title is expected to be released in February 2013.

Prior to its announcement, the German magazine GameStar leaked concept art. Soon thereafter, a pre-vizualization trailer was leaked. The official announcement took place on March 6, 2012 at the GDC. Though the leaked trailer's placeholder text mentioned both Windows and Macintosh editions, official EA materials have so far only mentioned a Windows version.

Along with many of the cosmetic changes (such as up-to-date 3D graphics), SimCity will use the new GlassBox engine. "We try to build what you would expect to see, and that's the game," explains system architect Andrew Willmott, meaning that visual effects such as traffic, economic troubles, and pollution will be more obvious. Two other new features are a multiplayer component and finite resources.

The game will also include non-linear curved roads, in contrast to previous games.

This version of SimCity will be the first to feature online play since Maxis's SimCity 2000 Network Edition, allowing for a single region to house many cities from different players, although the option for a single-player region will still exist.

SimCity will require players to be logged into EA's Origin service to play the game. An active internet connection will be required every time the game is launched, though a disturbance to the connection during gameplay will not interrupt the gameplay.

Resources in the game are finite. Senior software engineer Dan Moskowitz stated, "If you've built up an entire city on the economic basis of extracting a certain resource, when that resource runs out your economy will collapse."

EA/Maxis is developing the game using a new simulation engine called GlassBox, which takes a different approach from previous simulation games. Those games first simulated high-level statistics and then created graphic animations to represent that data. The GlassBox Engine replaces those statistics with agents, simulation units that represent objects like coal, power, and workers; each graphic animation is directly linked to an agent's activity. For example, rather than simply displaying a traffic jam animation to represent a simulated traffic flow issue, traffic jams are instead produced dynamically by masses of Sim agents that actually travel to and from work. A two-part video has been released featuring Dan Moskowitz, the lead gameplay designer, talking about the engine simulation behavior.

Maxis has indicated that the game will support modding, but will not do so at launch.

c====B

^^
me right now!!

but i hope they release a mac version!

Lots of work going on at the Art Gallery getting ready for the first MoMA Exhibition. The place is looking good inside. Two new canopies being built outside at the moment, one where the cafe is and another next to the wetlands. I really hope the new museum includes storage space for the Art Gallery at Barnett had hoped, it would be nice to see the top floor opened for exhibition space.

The Jeff Wall exhibition is pretty cool as well if anyone was thinking of checking it out.

movies that are getting me excited in 2012. (in no particular order.)

Django Unchained
Dark Knight Rises
Safety Not Guaranteed
To Rome With Love
Moonrise Kingdom
Killer Joe
The Watch
Bourne Legacy
End of Watch
Dredd
Ted
Gangster Squad

Twilight, Amazing Spiderman?

twightlight... no,

spiderman, eh.

I think its a bit soon for a "reboot" of the franchise...

Django is going to be all sorts of awesome.

Django is going to be all sorts of awesome.

I get a film related erection everytime I think about it!!

also Moonrise Kingdom!!!

Having seen Prometheus, I am excited for Spider-Man, Batman, Skyfall and Hobbit. Possibly also Total Recall although everything I have seen indicates its nowhere near as good as the Arnie version.

i thought Prometheus was rubbish. great special effects but the plot didnt really find its feet...

Oh yeah I forgot about the new Bond, but Sam Mendes directing it could be interesting...

3000 people visited the MoMA exhibition on opening weekend. This compares to 500 for the Princely Treasures one last year and 800 for Guggenheim in 2010. http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/entertainment/a/-/entertainment/13975688/masterworks-draw-visitors/

The park on the site of the old Francis Street museum is open. Pretty big and bare but great for what is essentially a temporary park. Good for visiting school excursion groups, and of course it's main purpose as a Perth Festival venue. Could have some great concerts here outside of the festival as well.

Really does show how difficult it's going to be to integrate the existing three buildings with a new museum though.

i was thinking that myself. it would need to be a seperate building. or is a new building even nessesary?

for some reason unbeknown to me i watched this entire movie...

total hipster movie... so Nate (and to a lesser extent Jackso) would love it.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1534085/

OK so for convenience, I'll just break it down to the kind of people who will like this movie, vs. those who won't. You pick your category and then you will know if you should see it. Because 1 out of 20 people will love this, and the rest will think it is the worst movie ever.

You will love it if: 1: You felt 2001 could have been even slower paced and still be awesome 2: You love really thinky sci-fi even if it doesn't involve people shooting aliens 3: You are crazy in love with 80's hair styles and weird synth music (this movie takes place in 1983, and takes that responsibility VERY seriously) 4: You loved Agent Smith's delivery of lines in The Matrix, and would have liked it if he talked even more slowly and threateningly 5: You think the only good sci-fi is 70's Russian sci-fi

You will hate this movie if: 1: You enjoy having more than one person deliver lines over the course of two hours (basically one speaking part in this movie, though the actor does a good job) 2: You don't like when movies are very, very pretentious 3: You like your movies to generally make an effort to make sense (at one point I swear the main guy gets a phone call from Speak-n-Spell) 4: You don't like when movies spend a considerable amount of their running time trying to injure the viewer's senses 5: You like a really good ending (if you look over the reviews, whether people loved or hated this movie everyone agrees the ending was weak)

All things considered, I really liked this movie, and so did the people I saw it with. But that's a bunch of film geeks. If you're a weird film geek too, I recommend it.


:-P

Will check it out.

i was thinking that myself. it would need to be a seperate building. or is a new building even nessesary?

A new building is definitely needed. Even with a complete refurb, the current buildings are unable to meet the flexibility requirements for a high standard modern exhibition. Plus there would be no where near enough floor space. I think the current builings could be used for other purposes, but the government implied it would all be integrated into a new museum. I've said it before, but I'm really hoping they include storage space for other institutions located nearby. It would allow AGWA to open their top floor.

I also really want to see a building on the small AGWA staff carpark at the Beaufort x James Street Mall corner.

I saw Chronicle the other day. Really good film, much better than I had anticipated.

Project Nim is very good as well, just saw it the other day too.

I must day being back in Aus I'm rapidly catching up on all the TV and movies I had missed over the past few years.

Will check it out.



A new building is definitely needed. Even with a complete refurb, the current buildings are unable to meet the flexibility requirements for a high standard modern exhibition. Plus there would be no where near enough floor space. I think the current builings could be used for other purposes, but the government implied it would all be integrated into a new museum. I've said it before, but I'm really hoping they include storage space for other institutions located nearby. It would allow AGWA to open their top floor.

I also really want to see a building on the small AGWA staff carpark at the Beaufort x James Street Mall corner.

true.

I saw Chronicle the other day. Really good film, much better than I had anticipated.

Project Nim is very good as well.

i lost interest half way thru CHronicle... I think its the 1st person handy cam that done it... not a fan of that style of movie.

I loved the original Solaris and that made 2001 look like a fast-paced music video. I think I'll give this film a try!

If you like slow paced, but utterly engaging and suspenseful (and don't mind subtitles) check out Caché. Brilliant film.

If you like slow paced, but utterly engaging and suspenseful (and don't mind subtitles) check out Caché. Brilliant film.

Yes. I've seen it a couple of times. Loved it. I loved the whole post-modern idea of the director influencing the lives of the characters in the diagetic world.

I wonder how many takes were needed on the chicken scene.

I scored a few Dilla vynls the other day... super excited to dust of the old turn table a give em a spin!!

I'm just about to sell 2 x SL1200's and a Technics DMC mixer - $1000 the lot - if you know anyone who is interested, be fast.

I am also selling my Roland Juno keyboard and Korg EM-1 drum machine.

Went into the CBD today to do some things (quite by chance, I almost decided to go to Carousel but ended up in the CBD) and ended up on Hay Street (again quite by chance because I decided to go to the William St KFC store instead of the Forrest Place KFC store) and the WA Police Pipe Band was playing, some sort of gig to raise money for some school or other.

Now THAT is what this city needs more of (street entertainment that is)

^^

i actually noticed quite a bit of street performers in perth today, it really made it quite interesting with all of the noise going on. though it may been because of the school holidays so there were more than normal. but i totally agree we need more street performers in the city

Perth has some awesome talent but you seldom see them on the street outside of festival times. In New York, talented folks love taking to the streets, subways and even the actual trains. Bands as big as LCD Soundsystem (who've now split) have been known to throw impromptu shows in the streets and parks of NYC.

After being in a tipping culture city (Vancouver) for a bit now - street performers need to go where the people expect to pay. Every street artist I've seen here has received plenty of notes in the hat cos people are just inclined to tip.

I will say this, I have watched a LOT of bagpipe videos on YouTube but in 100 years since Edison first created recorded sound mankind has yet to create a method of recording and playback that sounds as good as hearing a good piper playing live on a good set of great highland bagpipes.

God invented deafness with which to enjoy bagpipes.

God invented deafness with which to enjoy bagpipes.

:lol: So true. I thought being further away from Scotland I would hear less... but not so!

They are best heard in an open space from a distance.

And a few drams of single malt never hurt

When my cousin went to New York she came across Alicia Keys randomly doing a few songs on the sidewalk for free. So cool.

A great BBC story on watching some kids today try to play games on the Commodore 64...

Commodore 64 turns 30: What do today's kids make of it?

http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-19055707

Holy shit I'm older than the C64.

Here's some work I'll be showing in a few weeks.

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p262/desperaterobots/e64aa06c.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p262/desperaterobots/5353b23c.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p262/desperaterobots/cf9f3946.jpg

I don't know if I've said this before but the face you use for your artwork freaks me out.

The J Gillard collection.
Looks good btw, one of these days I'll buy one.

Thanks Ryan.

Haha Gillard...?

Brilliant work as always Desperaterobots! There's few art I can truly appreciate and your style is one of them!

Yay :D

Please translate your compliments into a format accepted by department stores, hotels and airlines are your earliest convenience. ;D

^^ excellent work !!


I went and checked out Stormie Mills' exhibition at Greenhill Gallery on Saturday... Some really interesting stuff.

not cheap either, $13 500 for most of his works.

Yeah, he's one of those successful types.

One day.... One day...

In the meantime, grab a bargain at my next exhibition! ;D

$13,500 for Stormy Mills!! Jesus his gone up in

I got myself a photography gig for wordplay mag. my first assignment is Illy this Saturday night at Capitol. if anyone is going come say hai!!

Congrats mate!

I need to start getting some photo gigs. No idea where to start.

cheers Acc!

its all about shameless self promotion, youve seen how many photos I post on facebook. Someone was bound to notice.. :lol:

I have a friend in Melb who is a promoter for a gig venue. Ill see if she is looking for a photographer, even if its a back up. :-)

^^ excellent work !!


I went and checked out Stormie Mills' exhibition at Greenhill Gallery on Saturday... Some really interesting stuff.

not cheap either, $13 500 for most of his works.

Ha he's an old old friend of mine ( from years ago) should go have a look

I don't know if I've said this before but the face you use for your artwork freaks me out.

i would have to agree with this.

but wonderful paintings DR. They look awesome.

My mates Bluegrass band The Seals played an awesome gig at Mojo's last night with Deb 'Spoons' Perry. If you ever get the chance to see them around Perth check them out. Very, very talented.

A Perth group trying to make a film, help them out.

http://igg.me/p/220320

and a nice little 7min video of some Curtin students who went to India last year. I will be going in a month and a half.

i shall have to work out how to embed vimeos after i get back from the airport.

http://player.vimeo.com/video/36406836

Acc have you seen Midnight in Paris? I watched it for the second time on Monday while home nursing my wifey.

for a lover of Paris such as yourself, I reckon it would almost be like watching porn... I am pretty sure "it" moved a lil bit while I was watching it! ;)

Yup. Absolutely love it :-)

Open house Perth looks fan-fucking-tastic guys. Check it out.

http://www.openhouseperth.net

I watched Rushmore last night for the first time as an adult. I remember I really hated that movie when I saw it a movie marathon when I was 16... But last night I was really drawn into the story. two thumbs up!

New SimCity, released Feb 2013 - PREVIEW

JiKsdEJOSsc

Use to go on SimCity 3000 Unlimited alot in the early 2000s. Good days:)

LOL! at the top comment on that video link;

no firetrucks + no hospitals + no police = Australia's NSW state government!!!!

TheSouthern1cross 2 days ago

Madlib was a bit disappointing on Saturday night.

Egon: Killed it with crazy 1965 African pop rock
jrocc: even tho very self indulgent, killed it with mashed up hiphop cuts
madlib: killed the buzz the support acts worked hard to build, no crowd interaction, pretty sure he didnt even look at the crowd for the first 30 mins of his set. His mixing was a bit off as well


the crowd was interesting... lol

Jrocc is a master, one of the greatest.

Jrocc is a master! I had his James Brown mix on earlier toady!!

New SimCity, released Feb 2013 - PREVIEW

JiKsdEJOSsc

Don't think it's going to be on Steam, only Origin, which means I won't be getting it! :bash:

For the beat junkies/loop diggers out there... (Nate and Acc)

"The Alchemist - Russian Roulette" is a surprise packet... get it into your eardrums

Glad to hear Madlib was shit. I had a ticket for Sunday night but was so tired that I stayed home and watched Spiderman instead :-P

Glad to hear Madlib was shit. I had a ticket for Sunday night but was so tired that I stayed home and watched Spiderman instead :-P

lol!

he was better then the new spiderman... but probably not better than sleep...

we were so fired up pre-show as well... and after jrocc, we were on a high... then 15mins into his madlibs set we were bored as shit! left 10 mins later...

SNOOP LION - La La La...

fvknlulz!!!!!

Perth Festival program is live! Chevron signed on as official sponsor of Festival Gardens. Program looks ok but no 2012.

http://www.perthfestival.com.au/

OK website crashed already.

Overwhelmed by choice as usual. Dead Can Dance and Phillip Glass, that might be interesting, was a fan of both in the 90's.

jose james with hiatus kaiyote is going to be amazing

Cat Power!

Isn't she broke? As in had to cancel some touring broke.

Don't think it's going to be on Steam, only Origin, which means I won't be getting it! :bash:

Got something against Origin?

Went to investigate what Dead Can Dance and Phillip Glass had been up to, and came across these evocative representations of two famous cities:

vZDCOR2a1-E

2CYK-OIOMXk

In an interview in the Sunday Times today, the director of PIAF said this was Philip Glass' first visit to Perth in ten years, after vowing last time never to return. Apparently he had a bad experience here, but would not elaborate. I tried googling it, but no success. Maybe he was glassed...

Maybe he was heckled?

He presented Philip Glass again in a special 10 day residency in the 2000 Perth Festival with Philip Glass performing his Piano Etudes in Kalgoorlie and outdoor at Mundaring Weir, Glass conducting a two day workshop residency with Australian composers at New Norcia Monastery. Koyaanisqatsi, Powaqatsi and Dracula were also presented along with Glass’s Symphony No. 5 (Choral) performed by the West Australian Symphony Orchestra as the Lotteries official opening outdoor concert.

goddamn Pulp Fiction is such an awesome movie!!!

Cant wait for Django Unchained!

fun fact: This is the second film Tarrantino has been involved with that has Django in the title..

I have this sitting on my shelf since 2008 and didnt even realise until last night... lol

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0906665/

Maybe he was heckled?

He presented Philip Glass again in a special 10 day residency in the 2000 Perth Festival with Philip Glass performing his Piano Etudes in Kalgoorlie and outdoor at Mundaring Weir, Glass conducting a two day workshop residency with Australian composers at New Norcia Monastery. Koyaanisqatsi, Powaqatsi and Dracula were also presented along with Glass’s Symphony No. 5 (Choral) performed by the West Australian Symphony Orchestra as the Lotteries official opening outdoor concert.

Lots of opportunity to get irritated, enough time to get sick of the piss-take alone.

goddamn Pulp Fiction is such an awesome movie!!!

Cant wait for Django Unchained!



At the Movies alluded to Seven Psychopaths as in the Tarantino mould.

http://www.abc.net.au/atthemovies/txt/s3615682.htm

Seven Psychopaths Rated MA Review by David Stratton
Marty, COLIN FARRELL, is an alcoholic screenwriter who has a title - SEVEN PSYCOPATHS - but no screenplay. His friend Billy, SAM ROCKWELL, runs a scam in partnership with Hans, CHRISTOPHER WALKEN, who needs money to pay his cancer-ridden wife’s hospital bills. They kidnap dogs and then claim the reward money - but they make the mistake of kidnapping the Shih Tzu belonging to gangster Charlie - WOODY HARRELSON, and Charlie’s the type who shoots first and asks questions afterwards.
Martin McDonagh’s second feature as director, after IN BRUGES, is an exuberantly silly, very violent, and superbly acted crime thriller firmly in the Tarantino mould. The apparently straightforward story is augmented with numerous very entertaining sub-plots and asides involving the seven psychopaths, and in the process TOM WAITS and HARRY DEAN STANTON give delicious performances. The female characters are underused, especially ABBIE CORNISH as Marty’s long-suffering girlfriend. But the film as a whole is fiercely funny; there are twists galore with some wonderful performances, especially from Rockwell and Walken whose scene-stealing skills are front and centre in this non-PC but thoroughly entertaining romp.

At the Movies alluded to Seven Psychopaths as in the Tarantino mould.

http://www.abc.net.au/atthemovies/txt/s3615682.htm

Seven Psychopaths Rated MA Review by David Stratton
Marty, COLIN FARRELL, is an alcoholic screenwriter who has a title - SEVEN PSYCOPATHS - but no screenplay. His friend Billy, SAM ROCKWELL, runs a scam in partnership with Hans, CHRISTOPHER WALKEN, who needs money to pay his cancer-ridden wife’s hospital bills. They kidnap dogs and then claim the reward money - but they make the mistake of kidnapping the Shih Tzu belonging to gangster Charlie - WOODY HARRELSON, and Charlie’s the type who shoots first and asks questions afterwards.
Martin McDonagh’s second feature as director, after IN BRUGES, is an exuberantly silly, very violent, and superbly acted crime thriller firmly in the Tarantino mould. The apparently straightforward story is augmented with numerous very entertaining sub-plots and asides involving the seven psychopaths, and in the process TOM WAITS and HARRY DEAN STANTON give delicious performances. The female characters are underused, especially ABBIE CORNISH as Marty’s long-suffering girlfriend. But the film as a whole is fiercely funny; there are twists galore with some wonderful performances, especially from Rockwell and Walken whose scene-stealing skills are front and centre in this non-PC but thoroughly entertaining romp.

it looked very Jackie Borwn-esque!!

its on my list. :-)

Looks great!

Fringe is running for 4 weeks instead of 3 in 2013, and they are looking at about 250 individual shows which is pretty great. Spiegeltent will be in the Urban Orchard as usual, and they will have a second hub but I'm not sure where that will be. The second 2012 hub was old treasury which worked great.

http://www.cityofperth.wa.gov.au/documentdb/3313.pdf

I thought they were going to cancel fringe because of the esplanade redevelopment.

No shockingly they managed to work around it.

What is the timeline re any forward works being done on old PEC site? Is that a potential venue? Program comes out on 14/12 apparently so i guess we'll know soon enough

That would be very interesting. You can see steps of the old bowl there, could make a great amphitheater

Surprised no-one's posted about the extra street signs in Vincent:
http://www.vincent.wa.gov.au/files/f1452e68-09d9-4ff2-aa32-a11800dd95b5/RG-signs.jpg

http://www.vincent.wa.gov.au/Home/News/Street_Signs
http://www.vincent.wa.gov.au/files/9978fbee-cab3-4c17-a2b0-a11800e05703/map_RG04_web.pdf

Have you noticed some odd new street signs that have mysteriously popped up around the City of Vincent? They’ve caused quite a bit conversation around the City and that is exactly what we wanted!

The signs are actually an art project, and are the result of the City of Vincent’s artists in residence – REINIGUNGSGESELLSCHAFT, or RG for short.

Martin Keil and Henrik Mayer are German artists who are collectively known as REINIGUNGSGESELLSCHAFT (RG). The name translates approximately to 'cleaning service'.

RG see themselves as an 'artistic venture that works at the point of intersection between art and society', and were the City of Vincent’s artists in residence from mid October to late November.

Rather than a traditional approach, RG are interested in a broader concept of art involving a process of making connections between different spheres of life and this potentially changing our perception of the world.

RG and the City of Vincent invited residents to participate in their project called ‘urban storylines’, to help picture a sustainable future of Vincent. Vincent has a rich heritage, comprised of people from all over Australia and the world. All residents have their own ‘storylines’ with regards to their sense of origin, places of identification, hopes and dreams. RG gathered from the residents a collection of ‘urban storylines’ – much like the Grimm Brothers who travelled and gathered stories and tales in old Germany.

From theses dialogue sessions and other community encounters RG transformed their analysis into a future agenda for citizens that will be spread across Vincent's public spaces in the form of new street name signs. The artists have created 23 intriguing new street names that are presented at 29 main intersections all over the City of Vincent.

REINIGUNGSGESELLSCHAFT

My eyes rolled so hard they almost fell out.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/entertainment/a/-/entertainment/15627122/perth-setting-for-exotic-tv-movie/


Perth setting for exotic TV movie

Pam Brown,
The West Australian
Updated December 13, 2012, 9:15 am

Perth setting for exotic TV movie

The "sleepy" city of Perth is bouncing on to the world stage with a starring role in Cartoon Network's first Australia-made animated movie, Exchange Student Zero, and native son Rove McManus voices five of the characters.

The 70-minute television special follows the adventures of John and Max, two friends at South Perth High who are so obsessed with a fantasy card game called Battle Day Zero that they inadvertently bring one of the characters, Hiro, to life.

That would be bad enough but Hiro is an anime character and the only way the friends can pass his peculiarities off at school is to say he is an exchange student.

Producer Bruce Kane said that when his studio, Bogan Entertainment in Melbourne, was commissioned to make the telemovie they assumed it would have to be set in America.

"But then they said it might be really fun to set it in Australia and one of the executives at the time said, 'Well, Perth has sun and beaches, those things that overseas people associated with Australia'. The idea works totally fine and I do think people overseas will consider it to be quite exotic - which it is."

So Kane's distant memories of what Perth looks like form the background of the animation.

This production was a first for both Kane and McManus, who showed an early interest in the project.

Kane has extensive experience as an executive producer of live shows, including Adam Hills in Gordon St Tonight, Spicks and Specks and Summer Heights High, but it is his first animated production. Cartoon Network is so pleased with the result that it has now commissioned a 13-part Exchange Student Zero series.

Kane said McManus was extremely good as he recorded his five roles - John, Max and Hiro, plus Coach and Lionel.

"He plays the three main characters and they are often talking together," he said. "He came along in the very early days, read for the pilot and was hugely supportive of the whole thing, which was great."

McManus, who worked via Skype from a studio in Los Angeles, said: "Being part of an animation project like this is pure joy for me. Not only because I am such a fan of the art form but also there is no greater pleasure than jumping up and down like an idiot and making silly voices for a day."

Mark Hamill (Star Wars) also is in the voice cast, along with Dee Bradley Baker (American Dad) and Candi Milo (Fanboy and Chum Chum), plus Australian actors Marg Downey, Peter Rowsthorn and Kate McLennan (Dogstar). Musical comedy group Tripod did the music and band member Scott Edgar plays the Principal.

Before the premiere of Exchange Student Zero, children can play an online game version of Battle Day Zero, the game on which the show is based, by going to cartoonnetwork.com.au.

Exchange Student Zero airs at Sunday at 3pm on Cartoon Network.

Nice.

FringeWorld program is announced tonight.

Fringe is expanding into Freo, Mt Lawley and Leederville and they have a second Spiegeltent sponsored by The West.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/entertainment/a/-/entertainment/15639618/bigger-better-bolder-fringe-festival/

Surprised no-one's posted about the extra street signs in Vincent:
http://www.vincent.wa.gov.au/files/f1452e68-09d9-4ff2-aa32-a11800dd95b5/RG-signs.jpg

http://www.vincent.wa.gov.au/Home/News/Street_Signs
http://www.vincent.wa.gov.au/files/9978fbee-cab3-4c17-a2b0-a11800e05703/map_RG04_web.pdf

We discussed this about a month ago.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/entertainment/a/-/entertainment/15627122/perth-setting-for-exotic-tv-movie/


Perth setting for exotic TV movie

...

Well that could get interesting.

^^Hanging to see it now. “Perth considered to be quite exotic - which it is." …Will be good for tourism :p

well this is rather disappointing to hear

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/forumdisplay.php?f=199


A year of highs and lows
STEPHEN BEVIS, The West Australian
Updated December 26, 2012, 1:05 pm

The State Theatre Centre remained sadly under-used. Forbidding hire costs and an inadequate and under-funded in-house programming and marketing strategy (When will large billboards go up that can be seen from the CBD?) meant there were not enough shows or enough audience anticipation about seeing anything at either of the venue's two theatres. Such a theatre complex on the city doorstep ought to be a tourist magnet.

Perth Theatre Company was consistently fascinating with its three plays in the Studio Underground and Fremantle's Deckchair Theatre did well on stage with its seasons of The Magic Hour and The Fremantle Candidate. As good as they were, however, the tragedy was that not enough people were going to see Deckchair's productions and the company folded in October after 30 years of operation.

Deckchair's demise after producing more than 100 plays can be attributed largely to its artistic failures of the mid-2000s, the inadequacies of venue and location, and its inability to attract sponsors in Fremantle.

But its collapse also points to the fragile state of play in the WA professional theatre scene. As Deckchair's artistic director, Chris Bendall, said at the time: "People have to support the remaining theatre companies so that the industry does not collapse around us."

Just thought I'd let everyone know about 2012 PolArt Festival being held in perth from the 28th December to the 5th Janurary. Overall its a Polish Visual art, dance, theatre , literature and film festival attracting over 600 artists from australia and overseas.

I did have a whole few paragraphs written describing Polart festival , but I accidentaly closed the tab and now have no time to rewrite it.

But please visit the link below and come out and support the Polish community which have put in a lot of planning to organise an event which hopes to attract over 30,000 attendees to all of its events.

Highlights include:
Huge free opening tommorow (28th Decemeber) at the Perth Cultural Centre from 5:30pm to 7:30pm featuring free live performances of various dance , theatre and music productions.

PolArt Festyn: A huge day-long free carnival day at Perth Cultural Centre showcasing Polish food, drink and crafts etc. Also with free performances

3 Traditional Folklore Dance exhibitions held at the Perth Concert Hall over 3 nights with finales featuring over 200 dancers.

(Relevant to the above article)
4 Theatre productions at the State Theatre Centre (Studio Underground) with groups from Perth, Sydney and Adelaide

http://www.polart2012.com.au/main/

well this is rather disappointing to hear

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/forumdisplay.php?f=199



Hm people aren’t drawn to a ‘blend in’ building. The others in the top 5 screamed come to me. shame.

THIS HAS BEEN MIGRATED FROM THE PERTH ARENA THREAD, TO WHERE I SUSPECT IT IS IN A BETTER CONTEXT.

There are many reasons why the STCWA is dead. It's partly because it's so costly to operate and the companies who are based there cannot afford to put on theatre. In a classic case of the law of diminishing returns, Black Swan simply cannot afford to run anything for more than 2 weeks. No matter how many tickets they sell, the longer they run the deeper in shit goes their balance sheet. The other one; the Perth Theatre Company is actively looking for another venue – so they can afford to mount more than 2-3 productions a year and run for more than 2 weeks.

The Government builds these palaces, without appreciating that they will cost a lot more to operate than their predecessors. Theatre companies are told: "There you are, you ungrateful bastards; there's your new venue. Now go make some art." without increasing the allocation to their budgets.

The other problem with ALL our venues is that they are run by an international company famous for operating stadiums. Our performing arts companies are just paying tenants. Ogdens operate all the theatres, concert halls and arenas in this state - which they do without incentive - for a flat fee. They have no interest in creating art, or in the quality of productions or - in making these venues more economic and flexible to work in. Why should they care? They get their fee whether anything is happening on the stages or not. And mostly it is not. Black Swan State Theatre Company is dark for 40 weeks out of 52.

If BSSTC was responsible for it's venue, it would work actively to bring it to life. Outdoor events, street theatre, live jazz playing in the courtyard - a sense of an occasion every night. They can't do that - because they'd have to pay more for utilising other parts of the space.

There isn't a serious theatre company on this planet that does not also manage and maintain the building in which it operates. Managing and operating the building has been part of theatre business since 1590’s when William Shakespeare and his cronies dismantled the timbers of the ‘Theatre’ and ferried them across the Thames to build the Globe.

But not here: here performing arts companies would never be trusted to actually own their own venue, let alone be trusted with the master key. That's because their too arty, often over endowed with poofters and prim-donnas who, it is assumed, cannot be expected to know how many beans make five. The consequence of this infantilising of the arts community is that our two major theatre companies, our Opera company, ballet company and orchestras have no one - that is NO ONE in their employ who is qualified to change a fucking light bulb.

Other theatre companies look at us - and shake their head in amazement.

Rant over.

^^ I think you mean the Perth Waterfront thread

I'm easily confused...

I'll have to hobble down there at some stage:
http://www.dominionsolutions.info/28.jpghttp://www.dominionsolutions.info/8.jpghttp://www.dominionsolutions.info/29.jpg
http://www.dominionsolutions.info/30.jpghttp://www.dominionsolutions.info/27.jpg

Is it just me or is the spam coming much more often these days?

No, some assholes keep spamming my MoP facebook page with shoe and sunglasses ads. I want to meet them, then hurt them.

I meant spam on SSC.

THIS HAS BEEN MIGRATED FROM THE PERTH ARENA THREAD, TO WHERE I SUSPECT IT IS IN A BETTER CONTEXT.

There are many reasons why the STCWA is dead. It's partly because it's so costly to operate and the companies who are based there cannot afford to put on theatre. In a classic case of the law of diminishing returns, Black Swan simply cannot afford to run anything for more than 2 weeks. No matter how many tickets they sell, the longer they run the deeper in shit goes their balance sheet. The other one; the Perth Theatre Company is actively looking for another venue – so they can afford to mount more than 2-3 productions a year and run for more than 2 weeks.

The Government builds these palaces, without appreciating that they will cost a lot more to operate than their predecessors. Theatre companies are told: "There you are, you ungrateful bastards; there's your new venue. Now go make some art." without increasing the allocation to their budgets.

The other problem with ALL our venues is that they are run by an international company famous for operating stadiums. Our performing arts companies are just paying tenants. Ogdens operate all the theatres, concert halls and arenas in this state - which they do without incentive - for a flat fee. They have no interest in creating art, or in the quality of productions or - in making these venues more economic and flexible to work in. Why should they care? They get their fee whether anything is happening on the stages or not. And mostly it is not. Black Swan State Theatre Company is dark for 40 weeks out of 52.

If BSSTC was responsible for it's venue, it would work actively to bring it to life. Outdoor events, street theatre, live jazz playing in the courtyard - a sense of an occasion every night. They can't do that - because they'd have to pay more for utilising other parts of the space.

There isn't a serious theatre company on this planet that does not also manage and maintain the building in which it operates. Managing and operating the building has been part of theatre business since 1590’s when William Shakespeare and his cronies dismantled the timbers of the ‘Theatre’ and ferried them across the Thames to build the Globe.

But not here: here performing arts companies would never be trusted to actually own their own venue, let alone be trusted with the master key. That's because their too arty, often over endowed with poofters and prim-donnas who, it is assumed, cannot be expected to know how many beans make five. The consequence of this infantilising of the arts community is that our two major theatre companies, our Opera company, ballet company and orchestras have no one - that is NO ONE in their employ who is qualified to change a fucking light bulb.

Other theatre companies look at us - and shake their head in amazement.

Rant over.

This is actually pretty fascinating, thanks for the post.

THIS HAS BEEN MIGRATED FROM THE PERTH ARENA THREAD, TO WHERE I SUSPECT IT IS IN A BETTER CONTEXT.

There are many reasons why the STCWA is dead. It's partly because it's so costly to operate and the companies who are based there cannot afford to put on theatre. In a classic case of the law of diminishing returns, Black Swan simply cannot afford to run anything for more than 2 weeks. No matter how many tickets they sell, the longer they run the deeper in shit goes their balance sheet. The other one; the Perth Theatre Company is actively looking for another venue – so they can afford to mount more than 2-3 productions a year and run for more than 2 weeks.

The Government builds these palaces, without appreciating that they will cost a lot more to operate than their predecessors. Theatre companies are told: "There you are, you ungrateful bastards; there's your new venue. Now go make some art." without increasing the allocation to their budgets.

The other problem with ALL our venues is that they are run by an international company famous for operating stadiums. Our performing arts companies are just paying tenants. Ogdens operate all the theatres, concert halls and arenas in this state - which they do without incentive - for a flat fee. They have no interest in creating art, or in the quality of productions or - in making these venues more economic and flexible to work in. Why should they care? They get their fee whether anything is happening on the stages or not. And mostly it is not. Black Swan State Theatre Company is dark for 40 weeks out of 52.

If BSSTC was responsible for it's venue, it would work actively to bring it to life. Outdoor events, street theatre, live jazz playing in the courtyard - a sense of an occasion every night. They can't do that - because they'd have to pay more for utilising other parts of the space.

There isn't a serious theatre company on this planet that does not also manage and maintain the building in which it operates. Managing and operating the building has been part of theatre business since 1590’s when William Shakespeare and his cronies dismantled the timbers of the ‘Theatre’ and ferried them across the Thames to build the Globe.

But not here: here performing arts companies would never be trusted to actually own their own venue, let alone be trusted with the master key. That's because their too arty, often over endowed with poofters and prim-donnas who, it is assumed, cannot be expected to know how many beans make five. The consequence of this infantilising of the arts community is that our two major theatre companies, our Opera company, ballet company and orchestras have no one - that is NO ONE in their employ who is qualified to change a fucking light bulb.

Other theatre companies look at us - and shake their head in amazement.

Rant over.

i sure hope the government learns something out of this and Perth Arena and Perth Stadium don't have the same problems

You can't lay all the blame on the government. In other places around the world, particularly the US, it's the private sector that provides a significant amount of funds for the arts. One thing I've noticed about Australia is that there doesn't seem to be the same philanthropic streak that exists in the US and the UK.

You can't lay all the blame on the government. In other places around the world, particularly the US, it's the private sector that provides a significant amount of funds for the arts. One thing I've noticed about Australia is that there doesn't seem to be the same philanthropic streak that exists in the US and the UK.

I feel that the majority still view the arts as 'airy fairy' the majority would prefer money to be pumped into 'footy' (or sports generally).

You can't lay all the blame on the government. In other places around the world, particularly the US, it's the private sector that provides a significant amount of funds for the arts. One thing I've noticed about Australia is that there doesn't seem to be the same philanthropic streak that exists in the US and the UK.

There are reasons why private support of the arts is so low here; we're a much younger country. The numbers of people who inherited significant private wealth is relatively few. Private philanthropy tends to emerge after the third or forth generation; when the hard yakka is a distant memory and the wealth is well and truly established. Think of the Rothschild's, the Guggenheims, the Carnegies, the Gettys, the Mellons etc. that created the great American museums and collections. Most of that wealth was forged during the end of the nineteenth / beginning of the twentieth centuries.

During the same period Australia produced comparatively few extremely wealthy dynasties - most of which do support the arts. But not enough.

If history is a guide it will be the grandchildren of today's mega-rich Aussies: Reinhardt, Stokes, Twiggy, Packer, Fox, Murdoch and so on (assuming their descendants don't lose it all) that will begin thinking about building enduring legacies with their wealth.

I think a major problem is our super-rich have little interest in art, many are probably cultural buffoons. I don't believe you need generations of elites before philanthropy takes hold, just look at Bill Gates or Warren Buffet. Even Getty for the most part was a self-made man as he only inherited 5% of his father's estate and that was well after he had become successful. Yet he created the worlds richest art institution because he was a huge art devotee.

Also art is much more expensive now than it once was. In the past few decades the majority of art created by the key players of the art universe have become investment opportunities for the super-rich. These days there is much more competition for the pieces and they are vastly more expensive and harder to aquire.

I think a major problem is our super-rich have little interest in art, many are probably cultural buffoons. I don't believe you need generations of elites before philanthropy takes hold, just look at Bill Gates or Warren Buffet.

All of this is true. And of course not all wealthy people care about the arts; but looking at older Western societies, the majority of private support for the arts comes from third and forth generation wealth.

But yes - there are also plenty of examples that contradict that principle. Sally Burton came from a very modest background, married into and then inherited considerable wealth and is now a very important patron of the arts in WA. Kevin Stokes, self-made mega-rich has the largest private art collection in Australia. Perhaps someday he'll build a gallery and put it on show - just like Charles Saatchi. (if only...)

There is one characteristic that does occur in the rich and that is an obsession to collect stuff. One individual I know keeps in a huge inner city basement his personal collection of every single toy he ever owned as a child. His collection also includes every record he ever bought, every record player/hi-fi, every champagne cork he ever popped, drink coasters, hotel menus, even a set of photographs of the various coloured letter boxes that occur across every canton in Switzerland.

Which does tend to confirm the adage that if this individual was living off welfare, he'd probably be institutionalised - but as he's filthy rich, he's merely an eccentric.

But yes - there are also plenty of examples that contradict that principle. Sally Burton came from a very modest background, married into and then inherited considerable wealth and is now a very important patron of the arts in WA. Kevin Stokes, self-made mega-rich has the largest private art collection in Australia. Perhaps someday he'll build a gallery and put it on show - just like Charles Saatchi. (if only...)

The Saatchi Gallery is interesting as it originally never housed a permanent or personal collection. It basically was a promotional tool for artists that Charles Saatchi saw potential financial and artistic worth in. I know he recently donated 200 pieces of contemporary art from his collection to the UK public as well as the gallery building itself.

Interesting John Kaldor recently donated 200 pieces of contemporary art to the Art Gallery of NSW. Both donated collections had a similar valuation of around $35 million. Kaldor's 2008 announcement came about 2 years prior to Saatchi's though, I wonder if there were any links between the two?

The Neilson family, the 10th richest in Australia recently founded the White Rabbit gallery that displays for the public their ongoing collection of contemporary Chinese art. The White Rabbit is a private operated, free, 4 storey gallery and is the closest I have seen to an Australian Saatchi-like Gallery.

Of course we can not forget about David Walsh and the $180 million, MONA in Hobart .. that is in a league all of its own. I think if had that had been built in the EU or the USA, it would be an international sensation.

The WA Govenor is leading a pretty strong push to increase corporate philanthropy here at the moment.

Would be amazing if Kerry Stokes built a proper public gallery for his collection. Just a waste if most of it is in storage. He has a small gallery on Kings Park Road, I think Dallas posted some photos from inside.

Whenever I drive over or past Barrack Street Bridge I allow myself to fantasise about a Stokes (or similar) taking hold of the Northbridge Centre and transforming it into a dramatic new palace for the visual arts. Great location.

UWA is still struggling to raise the funds to build the Berndt Museum gallery it has promised; to be situated on the corner of Mounts Bay Road, Broadway and Cooper Street. Not sure how that sits with the WA Gov's aim to have an Indigenous Culture museum on the waterfront.

Sacchi donated the whole gallery to the UK in 2010. Will become Museum of Contemporary Art, London

http://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CDYQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.telegraph.co.uk%2Fculture%2Fart%2Fart-news%2F7865867%2FCharles-Saatchi-donates-gallery-to-the-nation.html&ei=XiXhUOvEAuiZiAf02oEw&usg=AFQjCNGFaY0bsUb4hi_Caxrzc2n5CRyjjQ

How good would it feel to be able to do something like that.

I think Dallas posted some photos from inside.

I went as part of my Museum Studies major. I took photos of individual pictures, but this was the only wide-angled shot I could get on my iphone without being obvious.

http://img600.imageshack.us/img600/4914/kerrystokesartcollectio.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/600/kerrystokesartcollectio.jpg/)

You know an issue with Kerry Stokes maybe the state government not being a willing partner? Stokes maybe willing to share the collection but not to take on the total building and ongoing maintenance cost of any new institution? David Walsh has been desperate to make MONA financials independent since it opened. Before it introduced a $20 entry charge he stated it personally cost him $7 million a year to keep it open.

Housing his art collection
We actually need a really big building. To put it in some perspective, the Guggenheim would be too small for us to do it justice. The total collection, with manuscripts and books, is over 8000 pieces. We go back to the 8th century and we can tell a really great story. We have had an offer from South Australia and the NSW Government has also been interested. But this is my home (Perth) and this is where we want it. I feel my soul when I come back here.
http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/kerry-stokes-interview-in-full/story-e6frg13u-1111116057674

I do wonder if he was really keen on building something in Perth you think he would be onto it already, he is after all in his early 70s now.

House that collection in an architectural masterpiece in the nb link. Imagine it.

I think all the main institutions should move to Sydney as it would help international tourism, okay I am kidding (but barely).

One major problem we have in Australia is our institutions are scattered to all ends of the country and so there is no real cultural hub and instead we are perceived as a boring cultural wasteland. When you look at the EU most collections are consolidated to one or two historical capitals. London, Paris, Amsterdam, Madrid, Berlin/Frankfurt, Rome/Florence, Vienna, etc. Those cities wouldn't be the same if all their national and major collections were spread throughout the country like ours are.

I've been wondering what collections a potential Indigenous Cultural Centre on Perth Waterfront would house? I assume there is plenty of pieces from the WA museum and AGWA collections it could draw from, but it would be interesting if they were looking at collaborating with the Stokes collection or the Berndt collection. I am not particularly confident it will eventuate within the next 2 terms of government though. I reckon they will commit to the new Francis Street museum (already have committed) and drop the EQ cultural centre because of funding issues.

Seeing a stand alone building for the Stokes collection would be the ideal outcome. I guess it could only happen with a government partnership though.

Sacchi donated the whole gallery to the UK in 2010. Will become Museum of Contemporary Art, London

http://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CDYQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.telegraph.co.uk%2Fculture%2Fart%2Fart-news%2F7865867%2FCharles-Saatchi-donates-gallery-to-the-nation.html&ei=XiXhUOvEAuiZiAf02oEw&usg=AFQjCNGFaY0bsUb4hi_Caxrzc2n5CRyjjQ

How good would it feel to be able to do something like that.

The history behind these things is always fascinating. Originally Saatchi housed his collection in a warehouse, and you could go and see bits of it if you made a booking. Then he moved it into what had been the Greater London Authority building - over the river and adjacent to the H of P - which the Tories had disbanded. When the building was sold to a Japanese hotelier, he moved it to its current location which used to be the HQ of the Duke of York's Regiment. (I visited the place in it's original incarnation many times when I was interviewing old Duffers for the BBC.) As HMG downsized its armed forces it also sold off loads of prime military real estate - though in this case they virtually gave the building to Saatchi, so that he would have a permanent home for his collection. A lot of Saatchi's wealth was generated by his Ad agency's relationship with the Tory Party. Bless.

I've been wondering what collections a potential Indigenous Cultural Centre on Perth Waterfront would house? I assume there is plenty of pieces from the WA museum and AGWA collections it could draw from, but it would be interesting if they were looking at collaborating with the Stokes collection or the Berndt collection. I am not particularly confident it will eventuate within the next 2 terms of government though. I reckon they will commit to the new Francis Street museum (already have committed) and drop the EQ cultural centre because of funding issues.

Seeing a stand alone building for the Stokes collection would be the ideal outcome. I guess it could only happen with a government partnership though.

AGREED!

Dear Kevin,
A bunch of us from Ozscrapers were wondering...

Saatchi, what a guy. And he gets to go home and have Nigella cook for him every night!

I went as part of my Museum Studies major. I took photos of individual pictures, but this was the only wide-angled shot I could get on my iphone without being obvious.

http://img600.imageshack.us/img600/4914/kerrystokesartcollectio.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/600/kerrystokesartcollectio.jpg/)

Is this the Stokes collection in King's Park Road, or Saatchi?

Is this the Stokes collection in King's Park Road, or Saatchi?

^^Stokes.

That's correct. In an obscure office building along King's Park Road. Second floor from memory.

I don't see why the new waterfront building can't house both the aboriginal cultural centre and the stokes collection. That would give people two reasons to go there rather than one.

Size might be a factor. Stokes said he needs a building bigger than the Guggenheim to do it justice.

do you need to be invited to go and see the collection, or is it a public gallery?

Size might be a factor. Stokes said he needs a building bigger than the Guggenheim to do it justice.

He would be bias though as it is his own personal collection ... most galleries only show a fraction of their collection at any one time.

The Guggenheim isn't too big, it has slightly less exhibition space than the Art Gallery of WA, which itself is pretty small. Yet his collection of 8,000 works is less than half the size of of AGWA's at 17,000+.

I think it would be preferred if he donated a significant chunk of his collection to the state with the requirement that the state built a sizeable building/extension to house it. Though Stokes might be a control freak like David Walsh and may not want others to curate his collection?

INDIGENOUS CULTURAL CENTRE

Glad to see someone gave John Day a timely poke on this topic.
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/wa/15746480/indigenous-centre-still-part-of-plan/

But it does beg the question: where does the proposed Berndt Museum gallery sit with this?

As to the proposition that we base all national cultural centres in Sydney - (to be like London and Paris) - ignores the fact that unlike England and France we're a Federation. A better comparison would be the US - where you have the Getty Museum in LA, the largest collection of first editions in Austin, the finest collection of modernist skyscrapers in Chicago, the largest collection of contemporary art in New York, and the finest collection of Impressionists (outside Paris) in Boston.

London and Paris are aberrations: Having moved back to Australia I'm often asked, don't you miss those cities? Well, in some ways, yes. But I would miss them no matter where I moved; Berlin, Rome, Tokyo, New York. Wouldn't matter. So far better that I make a really worthwhile trade off - and miss them from here, rather than anywhere else.

I like Day, at least he doesn't bullshit. I really want to see this happen though. They should be doing planning work now. It would be a major blow to the status of any potential institution and to the case for federal funding if Sydney got in first and built one at Barangaroo.

On another note; good to see they are talking about WA museum as a priority. Hope to see a design competition (and a real competition like CentreStage was, not an invitation type thing) launched in 2013. Hoping for big things!

I read this article RE. National Indigenous Cultural Centre today as well. Barangaroo has had the same 'vision' since late 2009 - headland park in the north, mix of uses in the centre, high density financial hub in the south (to put it simply).

Since then, the southern third has moved through the planning phase to the construction phase and even has several confirmed tenants.

Unfortunately the government has had several ''reviews'' of Sydney's cultural needs but is yet to commit to a National Indigenous Cultural Centre (or anything else, other than the headland park and a loosely defined 'buried cultural space' with no confirmed use). A benefactor is even willing to donate $A1.5 million in indigenous art for a new centre, but still nothing has been confirmed.

On the topic of 'decentralising' national cultural facilities from Sydney - most Australian national institutions are in fact in Canberra (National Gallery of Australia, National Museum of Australia, National Portrait Gallery, National Library et al). Sydney only has one national cultural centre (Australian National Maritime Museum). Like the background for an ANMM in Sydney, I believe Sydney is also the best location for a National Indigenous Cultural Centre because Sydney is the site of first contact between indigenous Australians and the First Fleet.

Yeah but by that argument everything would be in sydney as sydney was the first settlement in the country so all the cultural stuff should be there. To flip it around one of the largest indigenous artifact collections in the world is at UWA and there's no way that should be in a gallery in sydney.

Completely disagree with the notion of centralisation of cultural institutions in one city in this country.

To flip it around one of the largest indigenous artifact collections in the world is at UWA and there's no way that should be in a gallery in sydney.

Well the National Gallery in Canberra has the world's largest collection of Australian aboriginal art and artefacts. That at least is partly why a 'national' museum may go to Barangaroo. Eventually NGA want to move its entire Australian collection into its own building, The National Gallery of Australian Art or something.

Off topic, but there is an gallery for Australian aboriginal art in Virginia, USA.
http://www.kluge-ruhe.org/

Well the National Gallery in Canberra has the world's largest collection of Australian aboriginal art and artefacts. That at least is partly why a 'national' museum may go to Barangaroo. Eventually NGA want to move its entire Australian collection into its own building, The National Gallery of Australian Art or something.

Off topic, but there is an gallery for Australian aboriginal art in Virginia, USA.
http://www.kluge-ruhe.org/

That's interesting, i recall watching the indigenous quarter on ABC 24 that said that the berndt was the largest but i wasn't sure. Really though i don't think we should be copying the uk or france on this by putting all the cultural institutions in one or two cities mainly because of the size of our country is much larger and you end up limiting some of the population from having access to our history/culture.

Really though i don't think we should be copying the uk or france on this by putting all the cultural institutions in one or two cities mainly because of the size of our country is much larger and you end up limiting some of the population from having access to our history/culture.

Well it is currently that way for our federal cultural institutions. Other than the National Archives which is truly national and the Australian National Maritime Museum which is in Darling Harbour everything is based in Canberra where most people never see them.

All the other public museums and galleries are a mix of state funded or owned institutions.

I believe Sydney is also the best location for a National Indigenous Cultural Centre because Sydney is the site of first contact between indigenous Australians and the First Fleet.

No offence, but you're from Sydney, so you would believe that.

The first contact with the First Fleet eventually resulted in up to 95% of Aboriginal people dying of genocide and introduced disease, and eventually let to the extermination of full-blood Aboriginal people in Tasmania altogether.

The very first contact between Australian Aboriginal people and others occurred in the Northern Territory and northern Queensland. The first contact with Europeans also occurred in the Northern Territory, and this was hostile. The next earliest contact with Europeans was in Western Australia. So on the basis of your reasoning Sydney should be almost the LAST place to get a National Indigenous Centre.

If there was any reason Sydney should have this centre, it's purely that it is Australia's most visited city, so more visitors are likely to see it.

Western Australia hardly has an enviable record with Aboriginal people, so we are probably just as unworthy to host such a Centre. It should probably be set up in Darwin, if anywhere.

On the broader subject of Sydney and NSW, it irks me that Australia's history has become so Sydney- and Melbourne-centric. We celebrate Australia Day on what should really be 'Sydney Day', primarily because the commemorative date of Federation is January 1st, already recovering from New Year's Day.

Australia only formed when six separate colonies came together as a single country, and each colony had its own unique story of beginning. These histories are hardly reflected in the story of Australia, which is dominated by the two biggest cities and their States. Anything outside Victoria and NSW, at least I believe, is generally regarded as a footnote in the greater Australian story.

No offence, but you're from Sydney, so you would believe that.

The first contact with the First Fleet eventually resulted in up to 95% of Aboriginal people dying of genocide and introduced disease, and eventually let to the extermination of full-blood Aboriginal people in Tasmania altogether.

The very first contact between Australian Aboriginal people and others occurred in the Northern Territory and northern Queensland. The first contact with Europeans also occurred in the Northern Territory, and this was hostile. The next earliest contact with Europeans was in Western Australia. So on the basis of your reasoning Sydney should be almost the LAST place to get a National Indigenous Centre.

HISTORY is the scariest tool of all iconoclasts.
Parts of the above is true - but it is an incomplete picture. The Australian indigenous population today is at least 3 times larger than it was in 1770 (not counting urban part-indigenous Australians), and the life-span of indigenous Australians is now twice what it was in 1770. Overall health, diet and life-options are far better now than they were for thousands of years.
But against that remains the scourge of alcohol, sexual and physical abuse - and a big lag in health and educational standards between Indigenous and Non-indigenous Australians.

But we can't go on whipping ourselves because the entire Indigenous population isn't living behind white-picket fences, riding their motorised lawn-mowers and shovelling money into their Super funds.

Saatchi, what a guy. And he gets to go home and have Nigella cook for him every night!

Lucky bastard! Not the cooking though, Nigella just does something for me!

HISTORY is the scariest tool of all iconoclasts.
Parts of the above is true - but it is an incomplete picture. The Australian indigenous population today is at least 3 times larger than it was in 1770 (not counting urban part-indigenous Australians), and the life-span of indigenous Australians is now twice what it was in 1770. Overall health, diet and life-options are far better now than they were for thousands of years.
But against that remains the scourge of alcohol, sexual and physical abuse - and a big lag in health and educational standards between Indigenous and Non-indigenous Australians.

But we can't go on whipping ourselves because the entire Indigenous population isn't living behind white-picket fences, riding their motorised lawn-mowers and shovelling money into their Super funds.

When you have to go all the way back to "spearing kangaroos in loincloths 250 years ago" for something to positively juxtapose their current situation against, it should be clear that it's far from favourable.

HISTORY is the scariest tool of all iconoclasts.
Parts of the above is true - but it is an incomplete picture. The Australian indigenous population today is at least 3 times larger than it was in 1770 (not counting urban part-indigenous Australians), and the life-span of indigenous Australians is now twice what it was in 1770. Overall health, diet and life-options are far better now than they were for thousands of years.
But against that remains the scourge of alcohol, sexual and physical abuse - and a big lag in health and educational standards between Indigenous and Non-indigenous Australians.

But we can't go on whipping ourselves because the entire Indigenous population isn't living behind white-picket fences, riding their motorised lawn-mowers and shovelling money into their Super funds.

That's an extremely western view of Aboriginality, and also quite wrong.

Before Europeans arrived, they had one of the most affluent lifestyles in the world. Depending on El Nino and the time of year, generally they only needed to work between 3-5 hours per day, versus the much longer working day of the average European at the time of settlement.

Their lifestyle involved one of the healthiest diets on earth, since their firestick farming methods cultivated the land to produce the high-yield plants and animals, and they knew their country so well they actually had a far greater variety of foods than Europeans had from their sendentary farming lifestyles.

Regarding population, currently about half a million Australians identify as Aboriginal. Pre-settlement Aboriginal populations could have been around 1 million, but likely around 750,000, so in fact Aboriginals in Australia are probably still beneath their numbers before they were decimated.

The figures you use have generally been discredited, since there was no way of knowing in 1770 what the entire population of Australia would have been at the time; eastern Australia had only been 'discovered' that year. However, early post-settlement population figures only took into account the population and age of Aboriginals who had already been exposed to western diseases, so naturally their numbers are low.

Finally, history, like science, works because of iconoclasts. I'm all for attacking established viewpoints, particularly when they are wrong, heavily biased, or merely supporting false illusions to the detriment of those suffering from being outside the establishment.

That's an extremely western view of Aboriginality, and also quite wrong.

Before Europeans arrived, they had one of the most affluent lifestyles in the world. Depending on El Nino and the time of year, generally they only needed to work between 3-5 hours per day, versus the much longer working day of the average European at the time of settlement.

Their lifestyle involved one of the healthiest diets on earth, since their firestick farming methods cultivated the land to produce the high-yield plants and animals, and they knew their country so well they actually had a far greater variety of foods than Europeans had from their sendentary farming lifestyles.

Regarding population, currently about half a million Australians identify as Aboriginal. Pre-settlement Aboriginal populations could have been around 1 million, but likely around 750,000, so in fact Aboriginals in Australia are probably still beneath their numbers before they were decimated.

The figures you use have generally been discredited, since there was no way of knowing in 1770 what the entire population of Australia would have been at the time; eastern Australia had only been 'discovered' that year. However, early post-settlement population figures only took into account the population and age of Aboriginals who had already been exposed to western diseases, so naturally their numbers are low.

Finally, history, like science, works because of iconoclasts. I'm all for attacking established viewpoints, particularly when they are wrong, heavily biased, or merely supporting false illusions to the detriment of those suffering from being outside the establishment.

This one could run and run.
And yet average life-span was about 30 years, or less; and violence, child-rape and murder were as culturally entrenched as any other aspect of the life cycle. It begs the question: how are you measuring quality of life and in what context does those criteria apply?

Does freedom from violence matter in a society when no such choice exists? (Greek slaves in 3rd century BCE)

This is an extract from the latest email from the CEO of the WA Museum, in a succinct update about the new WA Museum:

"The new WA Museum building

In an interview with The Australian newspaper this week, the Chair of WA’s Chamber for the Arts and Rio Tinto chief Sam Walsh welcomed the funding announced in May for the new WA Museum: just over $70 million in the forward estimates towards the complete scheme of $428 million. We still need to pinch ourselves when we talk of these figures. This is a significant cultural investment and a massive vote of confidence in the Museum by Government. It made 2012 a very good year for the WA Museum indeed! So I am delighted that the year ended in similar fashion, with the endorsement of the finalised New Museum Business Case by the Government’s Economic Expenditure Review Committee (EERC) and by Cabinet.

Getting prepared

Needless to say, there is still a great deal of Project Definition to be done before we take the scheme to market. We are pleased, however, that planning continues, particularly around the improvements to the Welshpool site and the provision of additional staff to work on collections documentation. These new posts are being recruited currently, and will start with us early into the new year."

can someone pls send that to lise/the grasskeepers?

Waste of time, sanj. They don't want to hear anything but their own voices.

yeah fair enough. cant believe i got banned, unaustralian. who am i going to stir now??

This one could run and run.
And yet average life-span was about 30 years, or less; and violence, child-rape and murder were as culturally entrenched as any other aspect of the life cycle. It begs the question: how are you measuring quality of life and in what context does those criteria apply?

Does freedom from violence matter in a society when no such choice exists? (Greek slaves in 3rd century BCE)

Yes, it could run on, but it is worth clarifying some points you seem stuck on.

Again, the average lifespan you are quoting is not accurate. It was originally measured on post-Settlement lifespans, where disease (not to mention murder) had reduced their numbers to a fraction. Their average age will never be known, but it was more than likely much longer, and most definitely happier. Generally speaking, their entire raison d'etre in their Country was spiritually based and, at the risk of idealising them, possibly in the most perfect harmony man could ever find with nature.

Affluence is certainly subjective, but if it is measured by happiness and leisure time, they had it all. We in the West tend to measure affluence by ownership, wealth, etc. However, anyone vaguely aware of the lack of true happiness generated by materialism alone will realise it's quality of life which truly counts. And before our ancestors - not yours sanj :) - shoved them off their land, they were as spiritually and materially content as anybody could be.

Regarding the lowest common denominator which people often throw into a conversation on 'primitive' people, Aborigines did not perform child rape or murder, any more than our own ancestors from no more than three hundred years ago did, in the form of under-age marriage, war and death sentences. Their respect for life, both human, plant, animal, and other, was entrenched in their culture.

What is your background on Aboriginal issues? I don't mean this patronisingly - I would just quite like to know.

Below is a short Wiki summary regarding the topic on 'the original affluent society' - you don't have to agree with it, it's just to provide a different viewpoint:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Original_affluent_society