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

  1. View the temporary public artwork in Franklin Square or view the video online here
  2. Complete the online survey
  3. 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

  1. View the temporary public artwork in Franklin Square or view the video online here
  2. Complete the online survey
  3. 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.

Discussions: All (5) Open (0)

  • Something Missing Discussion Forum

    over 2 years ago
    14 Responses
    CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.

    You need to be signed in to add your comment.

    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 discussion
    Replies Closed

  • BREATHING SPACE Discussion Forum

    over 2 years ago
    17 Responses
    CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.

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    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).
    Go to discussion
    Replies Closed

  • The Lanney Pillar Discussion Forum

    almost 3 years ago
    39 Responses
    CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.

    You need to be signed in to add your comment.

    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).


    Go to discussion
    Replies Closed

  • Truth Telling Discussion Forum

    almost 3 years ago
    99 Responses
    CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.

    You need to be signed in to add your comment.

    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).
    Go to discussion
    Replies Closed

  • Why

    by Northern lights, almost 3 years ago
    6 Responses
    CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.

    You need to be signed in to add your comment.

    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.

    Go to discussion
    Replies Closed
Page last updated: 06 Mar 2023, 12:02 PM