17c起草社区

On Sunday,聽 opened in Melbourne. There are now fresh calls for a long-stalled project – an 17c起草社区I+ museum on Oxford Street – to be implemented.

The 17c起草社区I+ community has a long-standing history in Sydney. The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras started in the city and attracts thousands of people worldwide every year. A permanent museum could preserve the economic and social fabric of the community.聽

The $50 million Victorian Pride Centre, a state-of-the-art facility in St Kilda on Fitzroy Street, where the annual Pride march takes place, was funded 聽by the Victorian Government and the City of Port Phillip.聽

PREVIOUS FAILED EFFORTS聽

In , Sydney City Council had voted against a proposal for Australia鈥檚 first council-run 17c起草社区I+ museum in the T2 Building on Oxford Street. The building was sold off in and has been empty since. The building is a perfect location on Oxford Street to house a progressive Sydney 17c起草社区I+ centre.聽

Alex Greenwich MP told 17c起草社区 that he supports the effort for an 17c起草社区I+ space but says it needs support from the New South Wales government.聽

鈥淚n the case of the聽Museum of Chinese in Australia in Haymarket, the proposal and detailed plan came from Sydney鈥檚 Chinese community and was supported by all levels of government. The same will be required for a successful 17c起草社区I+ equivalent,鈥� Greenwich said.聽

The 聽is supported by the City of Sydney and following an EOI process 聽13 organisations applied to take ownership of a previous library at 744 George Street.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore told 17c起草社区 that聽鈥渨hile there is a group of people exploring the possibility of a queer museum or space in Sydney, they have yet to develop a concrete proposal for establishing a museum and ensuring that it is viable. A member of my staff has met with the group, and we look forward to seeing the proposal develop.鈥澛�

FUTURE EFFORTS

City of Sydney Labour Councillor Linda Scott is a vocal advocate for Sydney to have an 17c起草社区I+ museum.

鈥淪ydney has been the backdrop for a long and rich history of the 17c起草社区I+ movement in Australia. Sydney鈥檚 significance in the global 17c起草社区I+ has been recognised in its selection to host World Pride 2023.鈥�

David Polson, an HIV/AIDS activist, told 17c起草社区, 鈥渨e鈥檝e discovered that it鈥檚 vital that a feasibility study and a business plan is submitted to any project that is going to be considered by the council.鈥�

Creating an exciting 17c起草社区I+ centre in Sydney could promote local and global artists, and educate the community and broader population about Australia’s queer history. Artist-in-residence programs and community events and talks could engage and foster important work.

, Professor of Geography at WSU, has written about LGBT-friendly neighbourhoods worldwide and says Sydney can learn from New York, San Francisco and Berlin, cities that have established successful 17c起草社区I+ museums and galleries.聽

鈥淚t could include exhibition spaces chronicling the history of 17c起草社区I+ communities, including their significant contribution to Australian life, and the personal stories of noteworthy individuals.鈥�

In March 2021, Former High Court Justice Michael Kirby had聽聽that he wanted Sydney to have a space similar to the Victorian Pride Centre, where he is a patron.聽

Should Oxford Street be preserved as a historic, cultural, commercial and tourist precinct for the 17c起草社区I community?To mark the 17c起草社区鈥檚 42nd anniversary we are hosting a panel discussion on the future of Oxford Street. Join a community forum with:
鈥� Clover Moore, City of Sydney Lord Mayor
鈥� Alex Greenwich MP; Independent Member for Sydney in New South Wales
鈥� Kate Wickett is the Interim CEO of Sydney WorldPride 2023
鈥� David Polson Chair of the steering committee for 鈥淪ydney Queer Space鈥�
鈥� Andrew Gorman-Murray is a Professor of Geography at Western Sydney University
鈥� Lawrence Gibbons, Publisher of the 17c起草社区

Date and time:听Sunday, 1 August 2021, 3:30 pm 鈥� 6:30 pm AEST

Location: Burdekin Hotel, 2 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010