The community has welcomed a reprieve on the eviction of the Bermuda Society of Arts from its City Hall Gallery -- however, artists and politicians said it did not go far enough.

They have called for further reassurance from the Corporation of Hamilton that the Island's oldest arts group will not lose its home of 47 years. Former Premier Dame Jennifer Smith, who held her first exhibit at BSoA after Art School, said: "This is a stop-gap measure which falls far short of reassuring the arts community."

Corporation members decided to extend the BSoA's lease for a further six months, giving the society residency until January 1, 2009, while they work on an "amicable resolution".

The Corporation gave the "People's Gallery" six months' notice to vacate City Hall on December 28.

Hamilton Mayor Sutherland Madeiros said the Corporation needed the Gallery for office space, and that members thought this presented free space rather than billing taxpayers up to $700,000 for an extension to City Hall.

The decision to evict the BSoA after 47 years of tenancy however, provoked anger from residents, artists and politicians. Dame Jennifer and Minister of Culture and Social Rehabilitation Dale Butler called on the public to petition against the eviction. Mr. Butler even threatened to bring in legislation to overhaul the Corporation altogether, declaring its rules and ordinances "outdated".

But on Thursday the Corporation seemed to have a change of heart and, following a meeting with BSoA representatives, announced the stay of execution.

As Corporation meetings are held in private, The Royal Gazette has been unable to determine which members voted for the original eviction. The Mayor has a power of veto but this was not used ¿ as it is rarely.

However, City Hall was originally created as a civic community centre. The Royal Gazette on February 12, 1960, quoted Mayor FLR Selley, saying the design involved the Corporation having "an obligation... to supply certain cultural facilities and amenities that were heretofore lacking... to include an exhibition hall for use as a permanent art gallery".

On Friday BSoA governing body co-chairs Jean Gardner and Ed Smith commented on the eviction reprieve, saying: "This is good news for the arts community of Bermuda, and particularly for those artists who have booked shows at the Bermuda Society of Arts during the second half of 2008.

"Now, they can be assured that their shows at the BSoA will go ahead as scheduled, and we know that our full slate of 49 shows will not be affected by this issue.

"Speaking of the longer term, our position has not changed. The gallery space at Hamilton City Hall and Arts Centre was purpose-built for the Bermuda Society of Arts. We are a community resource, and it is crucial that we be allowed to stay in our gallery space so that we can continue to support and encourage artists Island-wide, just as we have done for more than half a century.

"While we wait to hear from the Corporation, we would like to thank everyone who has stepped forward publicly to support the BSoA. The community has sent a clear message that arts and culture are important in Bermuda."

Minister Mr. Butler said: "I commend the Corporation for taking this first step and I ask that they assure the public that the 'People's City' (will) retain the 'People's Gallery'.

"The reprieve is good news, but the BSoA cannot rest on this small success. The life of art is at stake and they must continue to work on."

Dame Jennifer added: "The only resolution is for the BSoA to be given a lease by the Corporation for their current premises into perpetuity. The members of the Corporation are an elected body ¿ and although they meet and decide in secret, in this 21st Century they will be held accountable not only for their decisions today, but also for their stewardship of the heritage of which they have been granted custody.

"Art lovers throughout Bermuda ought to be concerned - when will they go after the theatre? If the Bermuda National Gallery did not have a lease, it would have been them in the hot seat. The Corporation must decide to uphold the letters on their building proclaiming it City Hall and Arts Centre."

Many artists were in agreement, saying the Corporation announcement did not go far enough. Georgine Hill, a founding member of the Society of Artists (former BSoA), said: "This is good news but I think we need something more definite than that, a reassurance it will remain there."

She also stressed the part the society had played in desegregation. "It was the first organisation that started off integrating, which was quite a big step in those days (the 1940s). At that time it didn't seem like anything would change so it was quite brave of the group to announce that on its formation it would welcome everyone, regardless of race, creed and colour."

James Kempe, one of the first artists to exhibit at the Hamiltonian Hotel (former site of City Hall) in 1947, said: "I think there's only one solution and that's to leave the Bermuda Society of Arts where they are. It would just be absurd to think that lovely space could be turned into offices. If they need more space why don't they just go to another building?"

Derek Fisher, who currently has a photographic exhibition in Studio A, added: "I'm happy with this decision but don't know if it really achieves anything. Unless the Gallery stays put, it is just a Band-Aid solution. However, it is a step in the right direction."

Former Society president Vaughan Evans added: "I agree that it's a reprieve in that it's six months, but it really doesn't change anything, because you're exactly in the same hole anyway.

"I am annoyed at the cloak and dagger, mirrors and smoke situation that you don't know who these people are who made the decision (at the Corporation). You're dealing with a sniper in that you don't know who they are.

"The Corporation of Hamilton values that space but it doesn't value it in the right way. It just sees it as a space to save us money but life shouldn't be about money. There are certain values which should be beyond that.

"What price tag do you put on the public being able to get together and have a good art gallery like that? It's priceless - you can't put a price on that.

"I think the Corporation's members are only seeing it as hard-nosed businessmen and not seeing the whole picture. Is the Corporation that strapped for cash?"

The Corporation is reported to have ended its last financial year, in December 2006, $2 million in the black. Revenue - from property taxes, car parking and wharfage fees, and other sources, was more than $21 million and the Corporation spent $19 million.