EASTERN Riverina Arts has called for an end to vitriolic social media attacks over the future of Wagga’s public art program.
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It comes as the organisation took to social media on Tuesday, in an attempt to start a more “calm and reasoned” debate on the issue, which has divided the community.
Currently, one per cent of Wagga City Council’s public works spending must go into a fund for public art projects.
On Monday night, Wagga City Councillors approved a review of the reserve to see whether it should be opened up to other community projects.
Eastern Riverina Arts executive officer Scott Howie said he was concerned that the tone of discussion was becoming extremely negative, particularly through Facebook comments.
He cited attacks on proponents of the project, such as artist Arthur Wicks and Councillor Kevin Poynter, as going a step too far in their negative tone.
“I think the debate is ill-informed,” Mr Howie said.
“I think art is a really visible thing to attack, it’s low hanging fruit.”
Mr Howie, who is also a member of the Public Art Advisory Panel, said an infographic was being shared on Facebook to show that the reserve was a small fraction of council spending.
It compared the $239,000 in the reserve to council spending this financial year on other projects, such as the more than $10 million to be spend on the equex multipurpose stadium and recurrent road resealing.
Mr Howie said it was unfair that council spending on other worthy areas, such as sport, was not subjected to the same amount of scrutiny as art.
For example, Mr Howie said the lights installed at Robertson Oval were “completely ugly and ruin our skyline far more than any piece of public art”.
“I’m not saying it shouldn’t be funded,” he said.
“But people need to recognise there is a diversity of opinion, and there is a diversity of things that people enjoy and value in this city.
“That needs to be appreciated and respected.”