Be wary of just who gets into the act

CASEY Council can see an opportunity to rent space at the new performing arts rehearsal centre to commercial interests, but during daytime hours.
This might be a good revenue raiser to offset the cost of the muchneeded and wonderful facility.
But I bear in mind Bud Tingwell’s comment during the official opening of the building on Saturday 18 November, when he said ‘hang on to it’.
He said commercial interests would be after the facility.
I have no doubt that commercial advertising filmmakers and commercial performing arts companies will want to use it and this is probably the best compliment it can receive.
I hesitate to use the word professional performing arts companies for fear it divides the standard of work between amateur groups and commercial groups.
I was ‘shouted’ for my birthday to the Williamstown Theatre Company’s production of ‘Shout’ on Thursday 16 November, an amateur group.
But I dare anyone to say this production was any less professional than shows they have seen in Melbourne’s top theatres.
That’s an aside, but having seen Casey Council’s list of indicative charges for using the centre I was amazed that amateur theatre groups may be paying substantial amounts for rehearsing in the building.
We are seeing high professional standards in little theatre where performers and backstage people volunteer time so why do they have to pay over the top for rehearsal.
Cricket and football clubs don’t pay $18 an hour for practising on the millions of dollars worth of sports grounds in the municipality.
However, a meeting is to be held at the centre to discuss such charges and management issues for the centre.
Let’s hope the potential users put a strong case to balance their rights with those of sporting groups and lobby for a realistic rental charge on use by wealthy commercial interests.
River Gum Ward councillor Wayne Smith has been rightfully dubbed the ‘Casey Minister for the Arts’.
‘Mr Minister’ needs to use some statesmanship and ensure equal standards when it comes to using community facilities.
We pay for things such as sports grounds through our rates, and government grants from our taxes.
Sporting clubs traditionally get the use of these facilities for very little.
Why then would a council charge a voluntary theatre group for using a community rehearsal centre?
The council appears to favour the rooms being made available to commercial theatre for daytime use and this may be an okay idea.
But if this facility is to become a revenue raiser the money should come from that section of the arts, not from community volunteers who should not have to pay more than they now pay for the hotch potch of places they use.