Agenda item

James Fitzgerald explained that the Council’s Arts Strategy had been launched in Mid 2016 and an Arts Development Officer had been appointed 6 months ago. The report detailed what progress had been made and what was planned for the next year.

Thomas Dodd explained that the highlights so far were the Hammersmith Poem by Robert Montgomery, which had been displayed under the Town Hall Extension and drawn significant attention; and the successful shop front studio in Kings Mall. The shop front studio was the first pilot scheme using an empty shop as a studio which had worked; it was intended to repeat the project.

Councillor Jones said that he was very pleased with how the Arts Officer had been taking forward the Arts Strategy and with the projects which were being developed. He noted that the Council had also organised the Shepherds Bush Comedy Festival, which had supported arts venues. Councillor Jones said that the Council was looking at a range of new ideas and was keen to ensure that the borough had sufficient gallery space.

A resident asked what the Council thought Arts Fest should be. Councillor Jones said that he felt Arts Fest should continue to be run by the community but that the Council should offer more practical support where this was possible. Councillor Fennimore noted that the Arts Fest received Council funding and said that it was hoped that business in the borough could be encouraged to give more. Councillor Jones added that the Arts Strategy was focussed on how the Council could work with partners to deliver exciting arts projects and facilities; he noted that the Council continued to have its budget cut by central government and that the Council did not have enough money to directly fund all of the projects it might want to.

Councillor Phibbs asked who had owned the unit in Kings Mall which the shopfront studio had used. Thomas Dodd said that the unit was owned by Schroeders, who had allowed Arts students from across London to use the the unit for 6 months. Councillor Phibbs noted that buildings in private ownership might become unavailable very quickly; he asked whether there were any Council buildings which could be used, suggesting that exhibitions could be held at schools over the weekend. A resident said that performance and rehearsal space was also needed. James Fitzgerald said that officers were working with Property Services to look at options, especially for artists residencies. Councillor Brown noted that any arrangements in schools would need to have appropriate safeguards for children.

Councillor Ivimy arrived at this point in the meeting.

Councillor Phibbs noted that it was difficult to display the Cecil French collection because of the high value of some of the pieces of art but said that it was important that the collection be shown. He was pleased that some of the works had been loaned to galleries and asked whether fees had been charged. Thomas Dodd explained that, as was customary when loaning art, no fees had been charged. Mr Dodd added that when works were loaned out their value increased.

Councillor Phibbs said that the Council spent money on paying debt interest and suggested that the collection should be sold to reduce the Council’s overall debt. This would, he said, leave more revenue to be spent on other things including arts projects. He felt that the Council could not justify owning the collection whilst not displaying it.

Councillor Jones said that the administration did not want to sell off its assets. The Council’s capital debt was held at low interest rates and so it was not necessary to sell the collection to reduce interest payments. He pointed out that the administration had renegotiated a number of agreements with developers to secure £56 million of additional capital. Councillor Jones explained that the majority of the value of the collection was made up of a few high value pieces, and that these were more regularly displayed than the rest of the collection. Discussions with developers were ongoing to try to fund a permanent display of the collection in the borough, whilst it was hoped that an exhibition of most of the collection could be put on somewhere in the medium term. He said that the collection needed to be catalogued and curated and that the Council was looking at how this could best be done.

A resident said that the Cecil French collection formed part of the borough’s heritage and should not be sold.

Councillor Phibbs asked whether a litstings section for arts and cultural events could be added to the Council’s webpage. Whilst residents noted that a number of newsletters did exist Thomas Dodd agreed to look at the suggestion and see if it could be done.

A resident noted that a cultural trust had been discussed with a recent Arts network meeting and asked what more had happened on the scheme. James Fitzgerald said that the Arts Network had agreed the terms of reference for the trust and that more information would be presented to the network soon.

Councillor Phibbs asked whether the Council could set up a scheme to match artists with businesses, such as cafes, which would be prepared to display their work. James Fitzgerald said that this idea would be looked into.

Councillor Phibbs asked whether Pub Theatres could be offered business rate relief to encourage more performance space to be provided. Councillor Jones said that it was difficult to provide business rate relief; however, pubs had been encouraged to take part in the Shepherds Bush Comedy Festival which the Council had organised and planning policy was being looked at to encourage the provision of more performance space. A resident said that some pub theatres charged very high rates for the hire of their spaces which meant that groups often lost money by performing there; Councillor Phibbs thought that increased competition between venues would ensure that rates were reasonable. Councillor Jones agreed to look into the business rates implications for a business if it were to convert spare space into a theatre.

Councillor Phibbs noted that the Council’s archives housed at the Lila Huset contained many paintings of local scenes which could be displayed across the Councils property portfolio. He had previously suggested this and asked whether any action had been taken. James Fitzgerald said that he would look into this, although it was noted that much of the archive’s contents needed to be catalogued before it could be displayed.

Councillor Phibbs suggested that school arts competitions could be sponsored by businesses. James Fitzgerald said that officers could look at this, however, there were a great many ideas for arts projects requiring business support and so these had to be prioritised; those which were easy to arrange and would have the biggest impact would be the first schemes which officers would try to facilitate.

Councillor Phibbs asked that he be updated on progress made on schemes he had raised at the meeting by email, rather than waiting for the PAC to discuss the Arts again.

The Chair asked whether the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy supported the Arts. Councillor Jones said that the policy provided a good balance between protecting residents and encouraging a vibrant cultural and night time economy. The Council’s planning policies had been amended to encourage culture and the arts.