EXCLUSIVE by Aiden Taylor
A swank new-look Kingston Butter is soon to open.
But as one historic institution is preserved, another is at risk of becoming a victim of the multi-million-dollar ratepayer-funded project.
When work began to restore the old butter factory, both the Logan Museum and Arts and Crafts Co-op were asked to sit out the restoration at a temporary new home near Logan City Central Library.
The museum is being welcomed back by Logan City Council, but the 17 artists of the co-op are becoming tangled in a web of paperwork which could see them out on the streets.
According to the Kingston Butter Factory council website, the intention has always been to transition the co-op back to their original home.
If that happens, the Co-op will continue its history side-by-side with the Logan City Historical Museum, which recently found out it would return to the KBF.
The Logan Historical Museum will resume tenancy at the cultural precinct, while the Kingston Butter-Factory Arts and Craft Co-op is not guaranteed a return after 30 years of residing at the venue.
Both groups have spent the last two years in their temporary home at 22 Wilbur St.
Later this year, the museum will resume its place at the cultural precinct, which now goes by the address of 270 Jacaranda Avenue.
The same cannot yet be said for the Arts and Craft Co-op, whose future remains undecided.
The precinct’s historic cottage, where the co-op resided, was put to tender from January to March this year.
The co-op did not follow through with the application due to confusion surrounding the tender process, and whether it could apply as an unregistered not-for-profit.
Arts and Crafts Co-op Secretary Jenny Pickvance said it was a tricky process to navigate.
“We found it very confusing and not as straightforward as we were led to believe it would be and without legal assistance, just about impossible,” she said.
Logan City Council has since clarified the tender was open to all community applicants regardless of entity status.
Ms Pickvance, who is a proud foundation member of the co-op, is worried what will happen when the lease for their temporary location expires after this year.
“The council at this stage has assured us that we can stay at our location at 22 Wilbur Street, until the museum relocates,” she said.
“After that, our association will need to find another home, somewhere within the area, so that we can continue to support our members and the local community.
“The possibility of not being relocated could result in our group disbanding, which is very distressing to all of us.”
Although the tender’s outcome is not yet known, Logan City Council provided a statement that council was “committed to helping the group find a more permanent home when this need arises.”
Division 2 Cr Teresa Lane would not comment on the nature of options being looked at for the co-op, but reiterated the council’s commitment to helping the group.
“Council is committed to ensuring this can continue by assisting the co-op find a suitable space once their current lease expires,” she said.
Cr Lane has been a strong advocate for the co-op for many years, having helped them to acquire a one-year extension on the lease at the current location.
“Community organisations like the Arts and Crafts Co-op provide a wonderful service to the community and provide a space for creativity and connection,” she said.
In a statement, the museum’s executive committee said they were thrilled by the outcome.
“The Museum Executive and our hardworking museum volunteers are excited that our future is now assured,” the statement read.
“We would all like to congratulate Logan City Council for having the vision to create such a wonderful facility for the community.
“Congratulations must also go to our patron Cr. Teresa Lane for her magnificent support for the museum throughout the past two years.”
The museum expects to start moving this August or September.
