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.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Local
Government Association of Queensland information on arts and cultural policy
http://lgaq.asn.au/community-arts-and-culture-government-policy
BRC
Corporate Plan
http://www.bundaberg.qld.gov.au/brc/policy.php?doc_num=MD-7-768
Discussion
Paper
http://www.bundaberg.qld.gov.au/files/BRC_Discussion_Paper_DRAFT_v4.pdf
Examples
of Arts & Cultural Strategies
Sunshine
Coast
https://www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/ArtsPlan
Gold
Coast
http://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/documents/bf/cultural-strategy.pdf
Douglas
Shire Council
https://douglas.qld.gov.au/download/publications__reports/arts-strategy-_email_spreads.pdf