Bundaberg Regional Arts and Cultural Strategy

PURPOSE OF THE STRATEGY

The Bundaberg Region Arts and Cultural Strategy 2019-2023 aims to provide an overarching vision and direction for the delivery of Bundaberg Regional Council’s arts and cultural facilities, programs and services as well as providing a framework for the consideration of future priorities and directions for investment in and with the community. The aim of the Strategy is to look at how Council’s investment can be maximised to ensure the greatest possible level of public engagement in and with the arts – to ensure that the programming and outcomes are accessible, relevant to the community and of the highest quality.

The intent of this Strategy is to provide overarching vision and direction to the plans of Council facilities and services as well as to inform collaboration and development of the broad arts and cultural sector across the region. The strategy will review existing cultural resources and identify gaps or opportunities, potential improvements to arts and cultural facilities and to look at how people access the arts.

Who is engaged in the arts?

If you read, listen to music, paint, dance, play an instrument, sing, write, take photos, then you are engaged with the arts. It’s well known that the arts contribute substantially to thriving communities. If there are opportunities to see great art (exhibitions, performances, etc) and to engage in art (groups, workshops, lessons) our community is a better place.

What do we mean by “culture” and “the arts”?

“Culture” is all about the ways we live our lives – the things we do and say on a daily basis – our beliefs, our language, our food – the rituals of daily life.

“The Arts” are the material ways we communicate these ideas and beliefs.

Culture is everything we do and how we live. The arts is how we write it down, film it, take a photo of it, sing about it, and so on. That means we’re all engaged in culture AND the arts – all day every day.

Why is this Council’s business?

In working towards making the Bundaberg Region Australia’s best regional community, Bundaberg Regional Council knows that supporting our cultures and arts practices is an important part of building our place and connecting our people. Council is developing an Arts & Cultural Strategy to help to direct Council’s resources (infrastructure and programming) over the next five years from 2019-2023 in line with our Corporate Plan. This will help us to respond better to local and visiting artists – the people who express and shape our cultural identities – and to respond to our local audiences – the tens of thousands of people who participate in the arts each year.

What do we need from you?

In order to understand what our community needs at this point in time, Council is undertaking a broad community consultation. This page gives you more information about the process and shows you how you can get involved. The more people that get involved, the better our planning will be which means a more effective use of ratepayer funds. See below for ways you can get involved.

PARTNERSHIP WITH CQUNIVERSITY

Bundaberg Regional Council is working closely with researchers from CQUniversity – Associate Professor Sue Davis and Dr Liz Ellison – who are experts in the creative industries. They are leading the community engagement process as Council wants to make sure it is community based.

ARTS AMBASSADORS

12 Arts Ambassadors will work with Council and CQUniversity to drive the community engagement processes. These people have been chosen to reflect the diversity of our region’s arts and cultural sector. The Ambassadors are listed below.

Merissa Craft –Paragon Theatre, Childers
Sue Robinson – Gin Gin Arts Society
Phil Oakley – Art Plus and Bundaberg Arts Festival
Necia Rosevear – Bundaberg Pottery Club
Leanne Hutchings – Performing Arts Educator
Robert McLellan – MAD Dance Studio
Brad Marsellos – ABC Wide Bay and artist/photographer/filmmaker
Kyle Schneider – Bundaberg Players Incorporated and local performer/theatre maker
Kris Sheather – Bundaberg Writers’ Club and local writer
Belle Wilson – Arts Development Officer, Gidarjil Aboriginal Corporation
Lewis McKee – Town Planner and musician
Christie McLucas – IMPACT Community Services
Christine Spence - Heritage/museums

HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED

Join our consultation sessions hosted by Arts Ambassadors.

Bundaberg:

Sunday 15 July – 12 to1.30pm – School of Arts (upstairs room 2R)
Tuesday 17 July – 7.30 to 9am – School of Arts (upstairs room 2R)
Wednesday 18 July – 5.30 to 7pm – School of Arts (upstairs room 2R)

Light catering supplied.

RSVP with your preferred date to artsandculture@bundaberg.qld.gov.au

Arts ambassadors will be leading consultations in Gin Gin and Childers.

Take the survey. Click here.

Send us an email.