Vexed Bermoothes

The announcement that the Corporation of Hamilton wishes to evict the Bermuda Society of Arts from the City Hall & Arts Centre is regrettable.

BSOA has operated a public gallery in City Hall for more than 50 years, staging dozens of shows each year from all segments of our community from school children to professional artists. Contradicting recent public statements by the Mayor, the Corporation now says it wishes to turn the gallery into office space.

This is a mistake:

• City Hall is not simply an office building; it is a civic centre. As the faceless office buildings in Hamilton proliferate, we need the cultural space in our city. No attention has been paid to preserving room for the arts in our capital; I believe the Corporation has a responsibility here.
• Dockyard and the Botanical Gardens recognise the value of the arts to attract people. The BSOA brings City Hall and Hamilton to life … with corresponding benefits to the Corporation’s taxpaying businesses.
• The BSOA is one of very few organisations in Bermuda that attracts people from many races, ages, national origin, incomes, and interests. This eviction will compromise their ability to provide this interaction. We need groups and outlets like BSOA more than ever in Bermuda.
• The space was designed to be an art gallery. It isn’t even particularly well suited to serve as offices.
• If the Corporation needs office space, why has it not planned for it alongside its large developments at Bulls Head? My faith in your ability to conduct urban planning just diminished, a lot.

Like many Bermudians, I hope the Corporation will reconsider this decision.