BORING, humdrum and drab is how deputy mayor Angela Collins has summed up the name for Wodonga’s new arts, community and entertainment centre.
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Last night councillors christened the $11.2?million project The Cube Wodonga.
The name was not among those in a community survey and was shortened from an online suggestion — The Culture Cube.
“It is nondescript, characterless, boring, I find it drab and I find it humdrum,” Cr Collins said
“It sounds to me like we are paying homage to MasterChef — The Cube.
“My fellow councillors know of my passionate distaste for this name — it is the wrong name and doesn’t sit well with me.”
Former deputy mayor Ed Foulston was the only other councillor to vote against the name.
“I’m not happy with the process, for starters this was not one of the five names we went to the community with,” he said.
The name was selected after community consultation that included online, email and hardcopy suggestions.
Council notes said it represented a community space which can be fixed or flexible, inside or out, youthful or mature, formal or informal.
A logo was also released for the building.
Cr Lisa Mahood believed the name and branding would be an effective marketing tool.
“A name is a bit like public art, it is not always to everyone’s taste,” she said.
“But when we choose something we hope it is easy to sell, something people will remember.”
Former mayor Rod Wangman defended the process that had seen the previously untested name adopted by the council.
“There is a process that we have gone through, it just doesn’t come out of left field although in some ways it might seem like that,” he said.
“I can live with it.”
Mayor Mark Byatt said in time it would be known as The Cube.
“Councillors were looking for a name that would represent the community and the diverse role the venue will play into the future hosting events such as live comedy and music, functions, theatre, conferences and lectures,” he said.
“We didn’t want people referring to this great venue as the entertainment centre or performing arts centre — that was too generic.
“This way people can simply say they are going to see a show at The Cube, and everyone in the region will know what they mean.”
The two-storey building will have a capacity of 1140 people standing, 300 seats for a dinner dance-banquet or 268 seats in the function layout.
It is expected to be completed by the middle of next year.
Council notes said a performing arts centre at Campbelltown, on the outskirts of Sydney, was also called The Cube.
