For years Oddfellows Hall has been the outlet for local artists to express, present and exhibit their work . This weekend will be the last exhibition that the hall will host and it’s going to be a big one.
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The ‘Feeling Festive’ Christmas exhibition will host 17 local artists from December 4 to 8 from 10am to 5pm over four days.
It is not just the venue that is concluding, YASSarts developer Kim Nelson and chairman Alex Tewes are stepping down from their involvement in the group.
“It's a shame for the town of Yass in the immediate sense that Oddfellows is closing, but personally I think it's actually a start. The old garage at the top of town is being developed as a new arts centre and workshop as we speak,” Mr Nelson said.
“Additionally, Alex Tewes has stepped down from chairing YASSarts to concentrate as I understand, more fully on the Burrinjuck Foundation; whose ultimate goal is to establish a regional arts centre and Yass Valley Council is discussing this long term initiative.”
Nelson said that for something like this to continue there really does have to be someone in a paid capacity responsible for the overall project.
Al Phemister will take over as YASSarts chairman and is sad to see this weekends exhibition the final on the lease.
“We don’t have the volunteer labour to continue here and now the property is up for sale,” Mr Phemister said.
Owner of the Oddfellows Hall, Rosemary Hodgkinson, said that she has had a couple of years of pure joy putting life back into a rundown derelict building, but can’t keep up the role as absentee landlord.
“I think that the building now is very akin to what it is meant to be, an art space is the absolute best use for it, the building really deserves to have visitors in it,” Mrs Hodgkinson said.
“I’m hoping that it will go into local hands, and there are some locals interested but who knows what will happen.”
Alex Tewes has recently been able to register YASSarts as an incorporation.
“In the most basic sense, for YASSarts to stage events such as 'Sculpture in the Paddock' and lease the Oddfellows Hall, it was necessary to become an incorporated body. There was plenty of red tape, and setting up the Oddfellows Hall brought additional red tape,” Mr Nelson said.
“The potential to encourage everyday folk who were interested in the development of art and culture in the region, to become members was another outcome of this incorporation. There will be teething pains as the committee decides what such membership has to offer but personally, I think it's more a case of joining because you want to help develop the arts in the region, not what you get out of it.”
Mr Phemister said the incorporation will create potential for grants and allow members to have more input.
“Emerging artists have different needs to established artists and this will be an opportunity to meet everyones needs equally,” Mr Phemister said.
The question about the future of YASSarts has been on the minds of many residents, given the current changes.
“From my experience in many previous initiatives both professional and amateur, things will work or not work purely on people's ability to get along - it will rise or fall on the dynamics of those involved,” Mr Nelson said.
Art enthusiasts and residents alike are encouraged to attend the final exhibition in Oddfellows over the weekend, with opening night drinks being held tonight.
