January 9, 2008

This letter was sent to The Royal Gazette and copied to Mayor of Hamilton Sutherland Madeiros:

Dear Sir,

As Minister responsible for Culture, I am strongly opposed to the planned closure of the Bermuda Society of Arts Gallery in Hamilton's City Hall. I understand the important part that arts and culture play in people's lives and in helping to become more compassionate and caring for all in society.

When I came home to Bermuda in 1976, the Corporation of Hamilton was very much a secretive, closed organization run by an elite group who took care of Front Street. The "old guard", also called "The City Fathers" felt Hamilton was "their" City. History will support this view and how their rules and policies deterred many people from even attempting to become elected officials.

Well, Mr. Editor, times have changed. During the past 20 years the Corporation has opened up tremendously to the point where all Bermudians now see Hamilton as "our" city and City Hall as "our" centre of culture in the City.

The Corporation has also made great strides in celebrating Bermuda's diverse culture with the establishment of the Dr. E.F. Gordon Memorial on Union Street, the Park on Parsons Road and the installation of Christmas lights in North East Hamilton to name a few. History will commend them for such positive change and finding an effective way of trying to redress the ills of the past by looking at the whole City and not just the Front Street sections.

The Corporation today is more open and liberal than at any point in its history. We must, therefore, ensure it remains that way or former progressive mayors like Cecil Dismont and Jay Bluck will roll over in their graves.

The most recent move by the corporation to give the BSoA six months to vacate their space – a space they have occupied for 47 years, and that was purpose built when City Hall was built — is, however, reprehensible, short-sighted and borders on criminal. It can certainly be viewed as a crime against arts and culture. With 47 shows held in 2007, 49 planned for 2008, five community-based annual school arts shows, a Bermuda College show, TechArt, the Prison show and much more, the City Fathers must have gone mad, lacked oxygen and sleep when they made such a bad decision to remove a vital part of our existence and creativity from its building. The people's gallery must therefore remain with the same rent and a removal of the sixth month eviction notice clause.

As Minister of Culture, I hereby proclaim my intention to do everything possible to ensure that the BSoA is not evicted from their space. And if sane minds prevail, we will not have to resort to racing to the legislative arm to review their outdated laws and ordinances and bring a real democracy to the City in order to prevent such irrational decisions.

While I understand and appreciate that the Corporation has grown, I call on the Mayor and his good staff to withdraw their intention to evict the BSoA .

I would urge the Mayor and his staff to fully explore a range of alternatives including using excess funds to find alternative office space. Alternatively the Corporation could creatively incorporate offices in the new proposed Number One Shed. Perhaps the Corporation could strike a deal with the new Hotel to be built at Par-la-Ville car park and negotiate a "peppercorn" rent for reduced Corporation taxes. There are many possibilities to explore before closing down an institution that this year would be celebrating 55 years of promoting artists and their art.

City Hall is one of Bermuda's most famous and culturally significant examples of architecture designed by Bermuda's most famous architect, Will Onions, and housing the BSoA — one of our most popular galleries.

Another famous architect understood the importance of such institutions for civil society. Frank Lloyd Wright once said: "Noble life demands a noble architecture for noble uses of noble men. Lack of culture means what it has always meant: ignoble civilisation and therefore imminent downfall."

Mr. Editor, I implore the Corporation and Mayor of Hamilton to reconsider their decision, and ask that all of Bermuda let their voices be heard. Write to the Corporation and tell them not to close the BSoA. We cannot afford to lose this important part of our culture.

DALE BUTLER

Minister of Culture and Social Rehabilitation