One of the notable casualties of the coronavirus in Sydney has been the NSW Mnister for the Arts, Don Harwin. Although Don is still an animate being his political career has been temporarily frozen, as he has been forced to resign for sneaking off to his weekender in Pearl Beach when everyone was supposed to be in lockdown.
It’s a little ironic – like Al Capone being done for tax evasion – that a Minister who has presided over the ongoing scandal of ‘relocating’ the Powerhouse Museum, has been pinged for breaking a public health and safety order. The Powerhouse saga is such a travesty it should have brought down everyone associated with the scheme.
To recap briefly:
- The move is completely unnecessary
- It will destroy museum visitation
- Parramatta doesn’t want it, having originally asked the government for better arts facilities, not a tricked-up science museum
- It will be wildly expensive, with no change fom $1.5 billion, and counting.
The entire process has been shrouded in secrecy, with the Minister leading the way in arrogant disregard of expert opinion and public opposition. The only compelling reason anybody has suggested is that the government is eager to sell the Powerhouse site to its pals, the developers.
With the recovery from the Covid-19 lockdown expected to cost many billions it would be sheer madness to proceed with the Powerhouse project – but the government is still not prepared to face reality, even as another inquiry gets underway.
To be fair to Don Harwin, the Powerhouse is the nasty, dark stain on his record, although regional galleries may argue they could have done better under his reign. His positives were his willingness to participate in multiple arts events, and his strident, consistent support for institutions such as the National Art School and the Sydney Film Festival. As Arts Ministers go, if one could remove the Powerhouse intrigue, Don would score highly. Too many politicians, given the Arts portfolio, treat it as a soft option. They cruise along, making the odd speech, and cheerfully preside over every new budget cut the government decides to inflict on an already mutilated sector. The current Federal incumbent, Paul Fletcher, is Exhibit A, but it’s a syndrome that afflicts both sides of politics.
Don Harwin gave the impression that he had a genuine enthusiasm for the arts, and was responsive to many appeals for support. The Powerhouse debacle showed the other side of his character as a ruthless political operative. It’s that side which will most likely bring him back into the fold after he’s served his penance. It’s a bleak reality that politicians are so often rewarded for their sins and penalised for their virtues.
As for the website, you’ll be surprised to learn that things are slow this week. I’m ahead of myself with the art column, and am posting only a single film review, of a movie that’s streamable from multiple sources. Vivarium is highly accessible, but disappointing in many ways. Some people think I should concentrate only on the ‘good’ movies and exhibitions, but that would be an impoverishment of the full range of what is expected of a critic. Better to ask a politician to focus on the good bits and eliminate the skullduggery.