They’d come to do something they hadn’t been expecting to have to do: speak against, instead of for, an item on the agenda about an arts initiative they say has “put a smile on the face of Urunga”.

It’s a pop-up gallery that has held five exhibitions of local artists’ work, sold $20,000 worth of art and had over 6000 visitors come through the doors since it opened in March.

“I thought that I would be talking to council in favour of some determined recommendation that would be aligned to benefiting Urunga community,” David commented in an email sent before the meeting.

“Instead, I was amazed to read the recommendation that offers us no future security but also wants us to pay rent until a real tenant is found.”

Over the last seven months, a group of dedicated, enthusiastic artists and volunteers have created a thriving cultural oasis in the midst of a small coastal town previously known only for its natural attractions.

With Council’s blessing and encouragement, they took a prime-position building that had stood empty for two years blighting the townscape of Urunga, and turned it into a thriving cultural space that Council’s own agenda item acknowledged as having a range of substantial benefits:

Initially, The Art Space ran on standard pop-up gallery terms – temporarily rent-free but paying all running costs, including electricity.

Buoyed by its success, and with a one-off grant from the state government’s Future Towns creative placemaking program, the not-for-profit became an incorporated organisation and prepared a business plan that included rent of up to $150 per week to be paid to Bellingen Shire Council, the owner of the building.

However, the market rental value for the building on the corner of Bonville and Bowra Streets (formerly a butcher’s shop) is $550 per week, and Council had concerns about the potential loss of $20,000 per annum, as well as the precedent of subsidising an art gallery in Urunga given that galleries are also operating in Bellingen and Dorrigo.

So the motion to be put on Wednesday night at the council meeting was that The Art Space start paying rent of $100 per week from December 1, plus the cost of utilities, with six weeks’ notice to vacate should a permanent commercial tenant be found.

David and Steve argued against this, saying that without 12 months’ security of tenure, many of the income-generating strategies in the business plan, such as teaching art classes, securing patrons and planning future exhibitions, would not be viable. And that there was no way they could afford $550 per week.

Fortunately for all concerned, an amendment suggested by Cr Steve Klipin was passed: that Council provide the premises for $150 per week from 1 December 2017 until 30 June 2018, giving The Art Space another eight months to prove itself.

In putting this forward, he mentioned David Southgate’s involvement in Urunga’s successful Sculpture in the Park event, which has now been running for five years.

“We always have too many things to spend dollars on and not enough money,” Cr Klipin said. “On this issue, we can quarantine our exposure to this financial year. It’s not 12 months but it gives them security of tenancy over the summer and for two school terms.

“It also gives Council the opportunity to evaluate if we want to continue in following financial year.”

On the question of precedent, he said he had no hesitation in offering to help Urunga in this way without providing an equivalent benefit to Dorrigo or Bellingen. 

“You don’t treat all your children the same, you treat them equally,” he said. “I’m not afraid of the precedent. These endeavours are hard to get off the ground – we need to keep the wind in their sails.”

After the meeting, David said he was pleased by the outcome.

“It turned out to be a good result,” he said. “Not perfect but at least the council has listened and given us some security.”