To Whom It May Concern: Songlines understands that a community meeting was held by SEIMA (3KnD) last week to discuss the future of 3KnD. We also understand that at this meeting a major issue that was raised was the fact that the future of 3KnD is in jeopardy due to the fact that Songlines has been charging rent to 3KND for the use of the Songlines owned building at Mary Street Preston. In response Songlines would like to state the following: 1. Songlines acknowledges and values the service 3KnD provides to the community and that is why we continue to support 3KnD and have done so since its inception. 2. Songlines believes that it is in the interests of not only Songlines and 3KnD that both organisations work together cooperatively, but most importantly it is in the best interests of our artists, our young people and our community. 3. The fact that SEIMA (the governing corporation in control of 3KnD) have failed to pay rent for nearly three (3) years, despite them happily paying rent prior to that time for several years is but one of a number of issues that Songlines has been attempting to resolve with SEIMA in the interests of the community. 4. The other issues include the fact that due to the current breakdown in relations between Songlines and the SEIMA board that the young people, emerging artists and established musicians that Songlines supports are no longer able to use the recording studio and rehearsal room at the Songlines building. This has greatly undermined our ability to serve the community as a music organisation and as such it is ultimately our youth and artists who are being disadvantaged. 5. There is also the extremely important issue regarding the maintenance of a safe and secure workplace for Songlines employees within the building. 6. Songlines has been attempting to resolve these issues through professional mediation with the SEIMA board but unfortunately we have been unsuccessful and given that our youth and artists are no longer able to use the community asset of our recording studio and rehearsal space, regrettably the issue is going to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) where we are hoping for a resolution that will best serve the interests of our community. 7. Songlines wishes to reiterate that we value highly the important work that 3KnD does for the community and wants nothing more than to see 3KnD operating to its full potential and serving the needs of our community. We are in the process of negotiating some difficult issues at the Songlines building in Preston and we encourage the community to be patient and supportive to both Songlines and 3KnD until we resolve them. Yours Truly, The Songlines Board.
Posted on: Wed, 28 May 2014 10:24:05 +0000
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