Consultation?

The Guardian’s recent depiction of the Italian Forum appears to be only somewhat accurate. Investigating whether Sydney can truly deliver on the promises of Mediterranean food, beaches, and culture, the tabloid responded with a snapshot of Sydney’s “own version” of the “overcrowded water fountains and bustling piazzas” in Leichhardt’s Little Italy.

Dubbed as “largely derelict”, the Italian Forum is once again on mainstream media, mocked and despised, with its “shuttered windows and fake plants,” a place where, according to the Guardian, “you can have a morning coffee in total silence while you stare out at the painted cement and consider your life choices.”

Surely, the Guardian is not aware that a month-long free screening of Italian films has been announced by Co.As.It. The not-for-profit organisation which recently sold the cultural centre and piazza for $11 million dollars is making a come-back, hosting the series known as ‘Cinema Italiano’. The event is open to the community and “to make the deal even sweeter, Co.As.It. is supplying free popcorn and ice cream.”

Isn’t that great for a change? One wonders how many serves can be purchased with $11 million. The Romans, fearing the revolt of the populace, coined the metonymic phrase “Bread and Circuses” which meant that the authorities would stage recreational events in the Colosseum and other arenas throughout the Empire hoping that the masses would be amused by the shows that were put on and forgot about their discontent. It’s unrealistic to think that the same may be the case here, but the evidence doesn’t really point to anything different.

Why would Co.As.It. run a free film series event at the Cultural Centre? The Sydney Morning Herald reported how “the not-for-profit group that pledged to keep Leichhardt’s controversy-plagued Italian Forum in the hands of the Italian community has sold the space to a mystery developer that refuses to provide the names of its directors or any information about past projects.”

Co.As.It. has now reaffirmed in a press release that “as an Italian nonprofit, our job is to preserve Italian language and culture in Sydney and that is why we are offering these films for free.” And what about the sale of the facilities to Redstone? Still no answer about what ultimately the new buyer will do with the cultural complex donated to the Italian community of NSW at the 1988 Bicentenary.

Back in early April, a media statement published by Co.As.It. on their website made no mention of what the future holds, other than noting that the settlement of the sale of cultural centre site is expected to occur in late 2023 and that the existing covenant attached to the land stipulates that the Cultural Centre is to be used for cultural purposes and the piazza is to be used for public entertainment will be retained and will continue on an ongoing basis, uninterrupted by the sale with Co.As.It. will have access to the venue as per current arrangements of twenty days a year. This means that a facility which is meant to be used for and by the community without any preference for particular stakeholders has now been placed on an “exclusive arrangement” between the former owner and the new buyer, completely sidelining the rights of that same community for which the place was in fact created.

An unsigned statement published in the Italian newspaper La Fiamma also reported that “a transparent and open community consultation process will begin in the coming weeks to solicit participation in the draft vision of the restructuring plan.”

It’s been over 15 weeks since this announcement was made and no consultation seems to have begun. It may well be that between a “free popcorn and ice cream”, Co.As.It. may also want to know what you think about the future of their multimillion-dollar sale to Redstone.

Meanwhile, as the Guardian pointed out, the only consultation you can be certain to get at the iconic Italian Forum is “a hip replacement consultation, amid a sea of medical services”. It might not be much, but “it still has its charm”.