You may have heard that the HPH is in danger of being closed down. Check out the info below and see what you can do to help stop the closure of what is, without exaggeration, an absolute icon of the Perth music scene.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

Sheila McHale, State Minister for Culture and Arts issued a press
release on Friday afternoon expressing her disgust about this decision
in pretty strong language for a politician. This suggests that the state
Department of Culture and the Arts are behind the bid to save live music
at the Hydey – and they are the strongest possible ally to have.

It has been all but proven that noise issues ARE NOT the reason behind
the closure, this was a pretty pathetic rouse used by management.
Neither the Town of Vincent nor the Dept of Gaming, Racing and Liquor
have any record of noise complaints about the Hydey.

James Strong, the Chair of the Woolworths board of Directors also
happens to be the Chair of the Australia Council for the Arts (i.e. the
federal arts funding/advocacy body). He is also the former Chair of the
Australia Business Arts Foundation – a body who exist to promote private
sector arts support. No doubt decisions made about the Hydey would never
have even crossed this mans desk. However, this issue presents a
possible Public Relations disaster for him, particularly given his
public support and advocacy for the arts. This man has the power to
click his fingers and save live music at the Hydey, at least for the
meantime.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Turn Up To This Meeting

Paul Bodlovich, Executive Director, The West Australian Music Industry
Association Inc. (WAM) advises that a meeting with the Management of the
Hyde Park Hotel has been scheduled for Tuesday 10 July at 7pm for a
7.30pm start to discuss reasons for the hotel management’s decision.
Invited will be Minister for Culture and the Arts, the Hon Sheila McHale
MLA, as well as representatives of the Town of Vincent and the
Department of Racing and Gaming, Liquor Licensing section. We encourage
everyone to make their voices heard in the loudest possible manner. (I
cant find details as to where the meeting will take place at the moment,
but will post when I can. I assume at the Hydey.)

Write an Email to James Strong

Address it to mail@ozco.gov.au with ATTN: JAMES STRONG in the subject

Point out his hypocrisy. You could perhaps make mention of some of the
following quotes?
(James Strong AO addressing a business lunch in Perth on Thursday 1
March)

“In short, we live in a world where the impact of the arts is felt in
the wider cultural sphere and far beyond…..If we take this broader
view of what the arts are, and can be, we get a full picture of its
impact on our lives…...However the value of the arts stretch further
than the bottom line – they also play a vital role in bringing people
together…... All creative work is ultimately an act of the community,
with artists coming together and joining with an audience in a social
act of creation and enjoyment….....And for those of you who are in a
position to do so, I strongly recommend exploring one of the many ways
that an arts partnership can enhance your business.”

Write an Email to the Hyde Park Hotel

hyde.park@alhgroup.com.au
Tell them what you think and let them know that they have underestimated
the backlash that would arise out of this – which becomes clear when you
realise that they didn’t even bother to make sure someone actually HAD
lodged a noise complaint before they used that as an excuse.

Write an Email to the Sheila McHale

sheila.mchale@dpc.wa.gov.au
Say thanks to her for throwing her weight behind the issue.

Boycott The Hydey Bottle-O

This is reason woolworths bought the property, because a Tavern liquor
license located in such a good area = $ through bottle shop sales. Shop
at the Rosemount up the road instead.

Attend local shows at the Hydey

But let them know you wont be back when the music stops. Tell the bar
staff (but go easy, its not their decision), manager, anyone you can
find.

ITS REALLY IMPORTANT TO REPOST/EMAIL FWD THIS FRIENDS! Edit it or
whatever, I dont care, just spread the word.