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Cultural Places initiatives provides a new approach to integrating arts in regional communities
The Australia Council today announced a new initiative in partnership with Arts South Australia and Arts Queensland and local governments to develop two pilot Cultural Places initiatives which aim to strengthen regional Australian communities through arts and cultural projects.
Through the Cultural Places initiative the Australia Council will invest $1.2 million into arts and cultural projects in the areas of Alexandrina in South Australia and Rockhampton in Queensland between 2011 and 2013. These funds will be augmented by investments (both cash and in kind) to the combined value of approximately $800,000 per annum from state and local government partners.
The Cultural Places initiative aims to demonstrate that arts and cultural projects can assist in the diversification of local economies and to increase social cohesion and improve quality of life when integrated into economic, social and community planning.
“The key to this project is the integration of artistic and cultural programs into the local council’s three year planning cycle and thus improve community well being through strengthened community cultural vibrancy,” says Kathy Keele, Australia Council CEO. “It means that the arts and culture are not simply tacked onto a local community – they become part of the core business of local government.”
“Cultural Places will assist communities to tell their stories, explore local issues and celebrate the lives of individual community members,” says Kathy. “It will also provide opportunities for both professional and non-professional artists to work within their local area.”
Federal Minister for the Arts, Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government, Simon Crean welcomed the initiative.
“The Cultural Places initiative involves all levels of government – federal, state and local – working together to deliver cultural programs to regional areas,” Mr Crean said.
“This program will increase opportunities for local community members to take part in arts and cultural activities such as festivals and exhibitions.
“This is a ground-breaking approach to nurturing arts and cultural development in regional communities.”
The SA and Queensland pilots will be used as research sites and will be independently evaluated to inform decisions about the potential for and value of broader applications of the Cultural Places initiative.
Show latest news, more from August 2011.
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