Artsource wins three-year lease for Vincent heritage buildings at $4,000 a year

Artsource will lease Halvorsen Hall and Lee Hops Cottage at 176 Fitzgerald Street, Perth, for three years at $4,000 a year plus GST, after the City of Vincent approved the arrangement.

The lease to The Artists' Foundation of Western Australia Limited, trading as Artsource, covers approximately 585 square metres and includes a possible two-year option. Rent will be reviewed against the consumer price index on 1 July each year.

The lease will start the day after the City completes works at Halvorsen Hall. The works include installing a security alarm, making electrical services safe and operational, installing air conditioning, repairing bathroom leaks and replacing or improving parts of the kitchen.

Artsource will pay the fit-out costs and the property's outgoings, including rates and taxes, utilities, rubbish and recycling charges, statutory compliance testing and applicable building insurance. It must also hold public liability insurance of at least $20 million for each claim.

Halvorsen Hall can be used for artist studios, workshops, exhibitions, cultural activities, performances, training, meetings, storage linked to arts activities and other related arts and community uses approved by the City.

Lee Hops Cottage will be used for administration, meetings and artwork production. The heritage-listed building must remain substantially in its current condition. Its walls, doors, windows, floors, ceilings and verandahs cannot be altered.

New plumbing, electrical or communications infrastructure at the cottage requires written City approval. Nothing can be fixed to its heritage fabric with drilling, bolts or adhesives, and any fit-out work also requires written approval.

Artsource must provide one skills-development opportunity for creatives and two community arts opportunities each year. It must also develop an artist studio program offering one selected artist free access to a studio for a defined period, with the participating artist contributing an artwork to the City's collection.

The City authorised its chief executive officer to negotiate the final lease terms. The lease will be executed under the City's Execution of Documents Policy.