Bega Valley Shire Council has restated its strong stand against domestic violence in the wake of questions being raised over the installation of a public artwork by a convicted criminal.
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Last week, artist Lee Cruse had his giant mural ‘Jungar Hunter’ installed on Eden’s water tower. Council general manager Leanne Barnes said this week she was not aware Cruse was currently serving 15 months’ jail for assault, stalking and intimidation, and predatory driving.
Ms Barnes said she would ask staff to investigate whether the terms and conditions of Regional Art NSW’s grant to Bega Valley Regional Gallery – which funded the installation of Cruse’s mural on the water tower – had been breached. Council would also review its public art policy in light of feedback from this incident, she said.
The water tank art projects have been done in good faith to highlight the artists we have in the Bega Valley Shire
- Anthony Basford, BVSC
Cruse was sentenced in October 2016. The gallery applied for the grant the previous year in 2015.
Cruse, 38, of Eden, who appeared in Bega Local Court under the name of Lee Anthony Butler, repeatedly rammed the vehicle of his victim, with whom he had been in a relationship, as he chased her on the Princes Hwy. He also threw her to the ground, stole her phone and threatened to kill her father if he called police.
Following reports of the installation of Cruse’s mural on January 9, Fairfax Media was contacted by a reader who said it was “disgusting” that a criminal should have his artwork displayed and questioned why no background check was carried out. They suggested an emerging Indigenous artist from the high school would have been more appropriate.
BVSC director of community, relations and leisure Anthony Basford said the council had never been formally advised that Cruse was in prison and “wouldn’t have expected to as this was a personal matter for Lee”.
“We were informed by his family that he was unavailable for the photo opportunity at the time of the unveiling,” Mr Basford said.
Council said it had not received any official complaints, but a comment had been made on Facebook.
Cruse painted ‘Jungar Hunter’ in 2011; the original is part of council’s collection.