Crowther Reinterpretation
In August 2022 the following recommendation was approved by Council:
That:
1. In recognition of the Council's 2020 Aboriginal Commitment and Action Plan and the submissions received in response to the Crowther Reinterpreted project, Council support the proposal for partial removal of the William Crowther statue from Franklin Square - the bronze component – to the City's Valuables Collection, pending further negotiations with local collecting institutions, for a permanent location for this element (Stage 3).
(i) This partial removal would be subject to receipt of planning approval by the Council and be paired with the instatement of temporary signage on the Franklin Square site, explaining the project.
(approved by Council 7 votes for and 4 votes against)
2. Subsequently, that officers develop a detailed proposal, in consultation with relevant stakeholders, for commissioning new, permanent, interpretative and/or sculptural elements to be installed beside the Crowther plinth (Stage 4). This would form the basis of a future report to the Council.
(approved unanimously by Council)
3. Following the completion of the Crowther Reinterpreted project, the Council support the development of a Monuments Policy to inform future additions or removals to the City's collection.
(approved unanimously by Council)
Anyone wishing to know more detail about the above proposal can read the full report in the Committee Meeting Agenda.
The City of Hobart has commissioned a series of four temporary public art commissions, by local arts practitioners, each offering a response to the statue of William Crowther in Franklin Square.
Through engagement on a number of City of Hobart projects, a number of Tasmanian Aboriginal people expressed their discomfort with the continued existence of the William Crowther statue and their desire for something to be done to recognise Crowther’s treatment of the Aboriginal leader William Lanne’s body after his death in the 1860s.
The City’s Aboriginal Commitment and Action Plan, sets out a commitment to visibility and truth telling across the city, with an action under this commitment being:
Undertake an interpretation project to tell the layered story of Crowther in Franklin Square. (Action 6)
This project responds directly to this commitment, and is intended as a way to allow multiple voices to comment on and discuss this contested element within the city.
The four works will present diverse perspectives and aim to acknowledge, question, provoke discussion or increase awareness about the story of Crowther and Lanne.
The current work installed is:
Something Missing, 2021 by Jillian Mundy
Get involved and have your say
- View the temporary public artwork in Franklin Square or view the video online here
- Complete the online survey
- Join the conversation in the online discussion forum
If this project has raised any mental health concerns for you, we encourage you to seek help via the support services listed at Mental Health Council of Tasmania.
In August 2022 the following recommendation was approved by Council:
That:
1. In recognition of the Council's 2020 Aboriginal Commitment and Action Plan and the submissions received in response to the Crowther Reinterpreted project, Council support the proposal for partial removal of the William Crowther statue from Franklin Square - the bronze component – to the City's Valuables Collection, pending further negotiations with local collecting institutions, for a permanent location for this element (Stage 3).
(i) This partial removal would be subject to receipt of planning approval by the Council and be paired with the instatement of temporary signage on the Franklin Square site, explaining the project.
(approved by Council 7 votes for and 4 votes against)
2. Subsequently, that officers develop a detailed proposal, in consultation with relevant stakeholders, for commissioning new, permanent, interpretative and/or sculptural elements to be installed beside the Crowther plinth (Stage 4). This would form the basis of a future report to the Council.
(approved unanimously by Council)
3. Following the completion of the Crowther Reinterpreted project, the Council support the development of a Monuments Policy to inform future additions or removals to the City's collection.
(approved unanimously by Council)
Anyone wishing to know more detail about the above proposal can read the full report in the Committee Meeting Agenda.
The City of Hobart has commissioned a series of four temporary public art commissions, by local arts practitioners, each offering a response to the statue of William Crowther in Franklin Square.
Through engagement on a number of City of Hobart projects, a number of Tasmanian Aboriginal people expressed their discomfort with the continued existence of the William Crowther statue and their desire for something to be done to recognise Crowther’s treatment of the Aboriginal leader William Lanne’s body after his death in the 1860s.
The City’s Aboriginal Commitment and Action Plan, sets out a commitment to visibility and truth telling across the city, with an action under this commitment being:
Undertake an interpretation project to tell the layered story of Crowther in Franklin Square. (Action 6)
This project responds directly to this commitment, and is intended as a way to allow multiple voices to comment on and discuss this contested element within the city.
The four works will present diverse perspectives and aim to acknowledge, question, provoke discussion or increase awareness about the story of Crowther and Lanne.
The current work installed is:
Something Missing, 2021 by Jillian Mundy
Get involved and have your say
- View the temporary public artwork in Franklin Square or view the video online here
- Complete the online survey
- Join the conversation in the online discussion forum
If this project has raised any mental health concerns for you, we encourage you to seek help via the support services listed at Mental Health Council of Tasmania.
-
Something Missing Discussion Forum
almost 3 years ago14 ResponsesCLOSED: This discussion has concluded.Something Missing is the fourth temporary artwork in the Crowther Reinterpretation project. It will be displayed from November 18, 2021 until the middle of January 2022 in Franklin Square.
We encourage you to view the work in Franklin Square and share your thoughts through the online discussion forum.
This forum is intended as a safe space for you to explore ideas about the reinterpretation of the Crowther statue and to have conversations in a productive and respectful way.
When participating in this forum we ask that you abide by the following Forum Participation Guidelines.
Please note, to participate in this forum you will need to be a registered user of Your Say Hobart. Register now!
If this project has raised any mental health concerns for you, we encourage you to seek help via the support services listed at Mental Health Council of Tasmania.
Be kind
We expect all participants to be kind and respectful to others and to our staff. Forums are moderated to prevent offensive or inappropriate behaviour.Remember, your comments are public
This is a public forum, meaning that any topic or comment you publish will be visible for everyone to see. You are legally responsible for what you submit.Keep it clean
Swearing and offensive language will not be tolerated on this forum. Offensive comments will be removed (this includes racist, sexist, sexually explicit, homophobic or otherwise offensive remarks). We also reserve the right to remove comments that are likely to disrupt, provoke, attack or offend others.Bullies aren’t welcome
We won’t tolerate any form of bullying, harassment or victimisation on this forum of other users, participating artists or staff.Removing content
We will remove, in whole or in part, posts that we feel are:- Inappropriate, or discriminatory against any individual or group.
- Abusive, offensive, or obscene.
- Deceptive or misleading.
- In violation of any intellectual property rights, including copyright.
- In violation of any law or regulation.
- Spam and off-topic content (persistent negative and/or abusive posts in which the aim is to provoke a response).
Go to discussionReplies Closed -
BREATHING SPACE Discussion Forum
about 3 years agoCLOSED: This discussion has concluded.BREATHING SPACE is the third artwork installed as part of the Crowther Re-interpreted project. Created by artist Julie Gough, BREATHING SPACE is an intervention that disrupts the statue of Dr William Lodewyk Crowther within Franklin Square, and in doing so temporarily creates a break for those pained by its presence.
We encourage you to view the artwork in Franklin Square and share your thoughts through the online discussion forum.
This forum is intended as a safe space for you to explore ideas about the reinterpretation of the Crowther statue and to have conversations in a productive and respectful way.
When participating in this forum we ask that you abide by the following Forum Participation Guidelines.
Please note, to participate in this forum you will need to be a registered user of Your Say Hobart. Register now!
If this project has raised any mental health concerns for you, we encourage you to seek help via the support services listed at Mental Health Council of Tasmania.
Be kind
We expect all participants to be kind and respectful to others and to our staff. Forums are moderated to prevent offensive or inappropriate behaviour.Remember, your comments are public
This is a public forum, meaning that any topic or comment you publish will be visible for everyone to see. You are legally responsible for what you submit.Keep it clean
Swearing and offensive language will not be tolerated on this forum. Offensive comments will be removed (this includes racist, sexist, sexually explicit, homophobic or otherwise offensive remarks). We also reserve the right to remove comments that are likely to disrupt, provoke, attack or offend others.Bullies aren’t welcome
We won’t tolerate any form of bullying, harassment or victimisation on this forum of other users, participating artists or staff.Removing content
We will remove, in whole or in part, posts that we feel are:- Inappropriate, or discriminatory against any individual or group.
- Abusive, offensive, or obscene.
- Deceptive or misleading.
- In violation of any intellectual property rights, including copyright.
- In violation of any law or regulation.
- Spam and off-topic content (persistent negative and/or abusive posts in which the aim is to provoke a response).
Replies Closed -
The Lanney Pillar Discussion Forum
over 3 years agoCLOSED: This discussion has concluded.The Lanney Pillar is the second artwork installed as part of the Crowther Re-interpreted project. A collaboration between Roger Scholes and Greg Lehman, the artwork includes a 12 minute film: The Whaler's Tale which tells of the extraordinary life of Tasmanian Aboriginal William Lanne (1835 - 1869).
We encourage you to watch The Whaler's Tale and share your thoughts through the online discussion forum.
This forum is intended as a safe space for you to explore ideas about the reinterpretation of the Crowther statue and to have conversations in a productive and respectful way.
When participating in this forum we ask that you abide by the following Forum Participation Guidelines.
Please note, to participate in this forum you will need to be a registered user of Your Say Hobart. Register now!
If this project has raised any mental health concerns for you, we encourage you to seek help via the support services listed at Mental Health Council of Tasmania.
Be kind
We expect all participants to be kind and respectful to others and to our staff. Forums are moderated to prevent offensive or inappropriate behaviour.Remember, your comments are public
This is a public forum, meaning that any topic or comment you publish will be visible for everyone to see. You are legally responsible for what you submit.Keep it clean
Swearing and offensive language will not be tolerated on this forum. Offensive comments will be removed (this includes racist, sexist, sexually explicit, homophobic or otherwise offensive remarks). We also reserve the right to remove comments that are likely to disrupt, provoke, attack or offend others.Bullies aren’t welcome
We won’t tolerate any form of bullying, harassment or victimisation on this forum of other users, participating artists or staff.Removing content
We will remove, in whole or in part, posts that we feel are:- Inappropriate, or discriminatory against any individual or group.
- Abusive, offensive, or obscene.
- Deceptive or misleading.
- In violation of any intellectual property rights, including copyright.
- In violation of any law or regulation.
- Spam and off-topic content (persistent negative and/or abusive posts in which the aim is to provoke a response).
Replies Closed -
Truth Telling Discussion Forum
over 3 years agoCLOSED: This discussion has concluded.This forum is intended as a safe space for you to explore ideas about the reinterpretation of the Crowther statue and to have conversations in a productive and respectful way.
Participate by creating a forum topic for others to see or join the discussion by commenting on other people’s ideas.
When participating in this forum we ask that you abide by the following Forum Participation Guidelines.
Please note, to participate in this forum you will need to be a registered user of Your Say Hobart. Register now!
If this project has raised any mental health concerns for you, we encourage you to seek help via the support services listed at Mental Health Council of Tasmania.
Be kind
We expect all participants to be kind and respectful to others and to our staff. Forums are moderated to prevent offensive or inappropriate behaviour.Remember, your comments are public
This is a public forum, meaning that any topic or comment you publish will be visible for everyone to see. You are legally responsible for what you submit.Keep it clean
Swearing and offensive language will not be tolerated on this forum. Offensive comments will be removed (this includes racist, sexist, sexually explicit, homophobic or otherwise offensive remarks). We also reserve the right to remove comments that are likely to disrupt, provoke, attack or offend others.Bullies aren’t welcome
We won’t tolerate any form of bullying, harassment or victimisation on this forum of other users, participating artists or staff.Removing content
We will remove, in whole or in part, posts that we feel are:- Inappropriate, or discriminatory against any individual or group.
- Abusive, offensive, or obscene.
- Deceptive or misleading.
- In violation of any intellectual property rights, including copyright.
- In violation of any law or regulation.
- Spam and off-topic content (persistent negative and/or abusive posts in which the aim is to provoke a response).
Replies Closed -
Why
by Northern lights, over 3 years agoCLOSED: This discussion has concluded.I really don't understand why it is important to one group that their culture is not disrespected while that same group is able to disrespect anothers culture. It matters not what the culture is, it is simply a matter of mutual respect. Why on earth councils believe its their job to get involved amazes me, particularly in the case of the HCC who couldn't run a bath, traffic congestion is off the planet while parking costs and unfair fines are a feature of the Hobart precinct. If council concentrated on roads, rubbish and rates, not a green agenda they would do a much better job.
Replies Closed
Videos
- Immortalising individuals who have done terrible things is not good practice by most people's standards in 2021. Many colonial statues are offensive, some more than others. This is the case of the statue of Crowther in Franklin Square - a statue on a massive pedestal - yet details of his gory deeds are missing, just like much of lutruwita's (Tasmania's) history. Do people that go into that park know who he is? Do they care? Would they even notice if he is missing? Do they want the statue gone? Are they ashamed of missing history? Something Missing explores answers to these questions from people who pass through the park every day and the work will continue, or perhaps hasten, the conversation about what we do with these chunks of metal.
- The Whaler’s Tale is a 12-minute film created by Roger Scholes and Greg Lehman. The film tells of the extraordinary story of the life of Tasmanian Aboriginal William Lanney (1835-1869). From the artists: “The life of Aboriginal Tasmanian William Lanney [1835-1869] has been overshadowed by what happened to him after his death. Few of us know anything about his extraordinary life... You would have to dig into the archives or online to find out about the remarkable events of Lanney’s life - a life which offers deep insights for us today into the turmoil C19th Van Diemen’s Land - Tasmania - lutruwita.” WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that the following film may contain images and voices of deceased persons.
Photos
Documents
- Aboriginal Commitment and Action Plan 2020-2022
- Media release - New artwork celebrates William Lanne - 240621.pdf (168 KB) (pdf)
- Media Release - Crowther Reinterpreted - 270421 (182 KB) (pdf)
- The Last Man_Stefan Petrow.pdf (677 KB) (pdf)
- The Mercury_AndrewHarper_TasWeekendArticle_May21.pdf (206 KB) (pdf)
FAQs
- History of Crowther and Lanne
-
Crowther Reinterpretation Project
- Why is this arts project happening now?
- Are you doing this project in response to the Black Lives Matters movement?
- Why can’t you just leave the past in the past?
- Why is the City of Hobart leading this project?
- Will this be a one-sided debate?
- Crowther was a great figure – why can’t you focus on that rather than dragging him down?
- Why are they temporary public art projects?
- Why are there four different public art projects?
- What will happen to the statue long-term?
- Will you remove the statue?
- Why are you giving priority to Aboriginal artists?
- Will the artworks damage or desecrate the statue?
- What will you do if someone vandalises the temporary artworks?
- How much is being spent on this project?
- Why are you spending money on an arts project – aren’t there more important things to spend money on right now with COVID-19?
- Why are you worrying about an old statue – aren’t there more important things to think about right now during COVID-19?
- ARTWORK 4 Something Missing. 2021 by Jillian Mundy
- ARTWORK 3 BREATHING SPACE, 2021 by Julie Gough
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ARTWORK 2 The Lanney Pillar, 2021. A collaboration by Roger Scholes and Greg Lehman
- Roger Scholes and Greg Lehman’s Artist Statement
- How long will The Lanney Pillar be be on display?
- What does the artwork mean?
- Why are there different spellings of Lanne and Lanney?
- What materials is the artwork made of?
- Will the artwork damage the sculpture?
- How can I view the full version of the film, The Whaler’s Tale?
- Does the film show real footage of William Lanney?
- ARTWORK 1 Truth Telling, 2021 by Allan Mansell
Lifecycle
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Open
Crowther Reinterpretation has finished this stageThis consultation is open for contributions.
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Under Review
Crowther Reinterpretation has finished this stageContributions to this consultation are closed for evaluation and review. The project team will report back on key outcomes.
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Final report
Crowther Reinterpretation is currently at this stageThe final outcomes of the consultation are documented here. This may include a summary of all contributions collected as well as recommendations for future action.
Who's Listening
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JA
Phone 03 6238 2494 Email coh@hobartcity.com.au -
JB
Email coh@hobartcity.com.au -
DR
Email coh@hobartcity.com.au