HOBART CITY COUNCIL ARTS AND CULTURAL STRATEGY NOVEMBER 2002

ARTS AND COMMUNITY SUSTAINABILITY BUILT AND NATURAL ENVIRONMENT CITY IDENTITY EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT HOBART CITY COUNCIL ARTS AND CULTURAL STRATEGY Principles Hobart will be recognised for: > the statewide pre-eminence of its arts & cultural practitioners, producers, facilities, attractions, festivals & events; > its significant cultural & built heritage; > its unique geographical location, lifestyle and environmental strengths. Hobart will be a City that welcomes and celebrates cultural diversity. The Hobart City Council will plan for and support a sustainable, accessible & dynamic arts & cultural life for Hobart. Contents Arts and Community 3 Sustainability 6 Built and Natural Environment 9 City Identity 11 Effective Management 12 2

ARTS AND COMMUNITY ARTS AND COMMUNITY Policy Statement The Hobart City Council will create significant opportunities for all members of the community and for visitors to Hobart to actively participate in the arts and in cultural activities. Ensure that all of Hobart s communities and visitors to the City have the opportunity to become actively involved in arts and cultural activities. Facilitate involvement and participation in arts and cultural activities by: > assisting Hobart s arts, cultural and community organisations to provide a range of festivals, activities and events; > supporting community initiatives by the ongoing provision of funding through the Council s Cultural and Community Grants Programs; > presenting Council organised events and activities; and facilitating community involvement in the development of major cultural programs, including the Bicentenary of European founding of Hobart. Support community and visitor access to quality visual arts, craft and design, exhibitions and programs in Hobart. Support the continued development and operation of art, craft and design galleries in Hobart. Continue to support the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery through Council s Cultural Grants program. Program the Council operated Carnegie Gallery to provide: > a venue for travelling exhibitions that would otherwise not be available to the Hobart community; and > a professional exhibition space for a range of community and arts based groups and organisations. Consult with the Council s Arts Advisory Committee in developing the Carnegie Gallery exhibition program and City of Hobart Art Prize. Continue the successful relationships with the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery and Ten Days on the Island to further enhance and develop the City of Hobart Art Prize. 3

ARTS AND COMMUNITY Ensure that all community members have access to and can readily participate in Council organised arts and cultural events. Ensure Council events and activities: > are promoted through targeted and accessible information; > use locations and venues that provide access for all; > have appropriate event timing and scheduling; and > include quieter locations and more passive / reflective activities within large scale celebratory activities. Improve the physical accessibility of key Council venues, specifically the Carnegie Gallery. Promote international ties and cultural under-standing through Council s arts and cultural programs. Explore cultural exchange opportunities and projects, especially those with strong community and cultural outcomes with Council s Sister Cities. Explore ways to involve the wider culturally diverse community in Council initiated events, festivals and activities. Support Hobart s culturally diverse community through the Council s Cultural and Community Grants Program. Provide resources to assist the community and arts and cultural sector organisations to deliver arts and cultural activities and programs. Continue to provide financial and in-kind support to arts and cultural organisations and the community generally, through the Council s Cultural and Community Grants Programs, ensuring that these programs: > reflect community concerns and issues; > are responsive to opportunities that arise in the community; and > address the needs of all communities including culturally diverse groups. Annually review the Cultural and Community Grant programs. Provide general developmental and professional assistance through the Events and Cultural Development Unit, as resources allow. 4

ARTS AND COMMUNITY Assist youth audiences to access a broad range of arts and cultural experiences. Integrate actions from Council s Youth Strategy as part of the implementation of the Arts and Cultural Strategy. Support the development of arts and cultural initiatives that respond to the perceived cultural isolation of young people in Tasmania. Create opportunities for youth participation and involvement in Council organised activities by considering key factors such as cost, times, location and transport. Support youth based initiatives through the Council s Cultural and Community Grants Programs. Support the development of arts and cultural activities for young people through Council s Youth ARC facility. 5

SUSTAINABILITY SUSTAINABILITY Policy Statement The Hobart City Council will increase the sustainability of, support the further development of, and seek new opportunities for Hobart s arts & cultural sectors. Promote and support the City s arts and cultural providers including commercial and non commercial organisations and individual practitioners. Develop a program to build and expand local audiences by: > working with Arts Tasmania and other organisations; and > developing and supporting specific events / activities that attract new audiences. Participate in and support research projects that directly assist arts and cultural development: > through partnerships with key agencies such as Arts Tasmania & Tourism Tasmania; > by commissioning specific research projects; and > by funding and assisting community and cultural groups to do so. Develop potential economic opportunities for artists and arts organisations by: > researching other local government schemes such as Artists in Residency for appropriate employment models for artists; > encouraging the commercial sector to use local cultural product; and > using local artists, performers and cultural providers to assist in the delivery of Council programs and projects, particularly as part of as part of Council built and natural environment enhancement / redevelopment projects. Use the Carnegie Gallery and City of Hobart Art Prize to support Tasmanian visual artists, craftspeople, designers and arts organisations within the national context. Work with the performing arts sector to identify and support new performance opportunities in Hobart. 6

SUSTAINABILITY Ensure that Council programs continue to support and work in co-operation with other arts and cultural providers. Develop relationships and complementary activities with key cultural organisations in Hobart. Continue to program the Carnegie Gallery so that it: > facilitates opportunities for Tasmanian artists, craftspeople, designers and curators to exhibit in a professional gallery environment; and > complements and is supportive of the City s other commercial and non commercial galleries, and is open to partnership opportunities with other organisations. Continue to deliver the City of Hobart Art Prize so that it assists the complementary aims of its partner organisations. Offer opportunities for the improvement and development of skills and the expansion of professional practice. Improve the quality and delivery of community festivals and events through: > provision of funding programs, logistic services, support, and advice; and > provision of skills acquisition and issues based workshops for event organisers. Facilitate access to career and skills development programs for artists and cultural workers by: > encouraging arts training institutions to offer business and vocational skill based arts and cultural courses; > supporting mentoring and skills development programs; and > supporting the introduction of vocational and post secondary courses in the arts and cultural areas and through scholarships and bursaries. Provide professional opportunities for arts workers, artists, designers, craftspeople and performing artists within Council initiated programs, events and activities. 7

SUSTAINABILITY Promote the value of the arts and cultural sector to the City s residents and visitors. In consultation with other organisations, particularly State Government, support the production and distribution of an arts, cultural and tourism data base that profiles activities and events in Hobart. Promote the arts and cultural sector using existing Council communication tools, such as Capital City News, and Hobart Summer Festival promotional and advertising material. Develop and assess the benefits that Council assisted festivals and events bring to the arts and cultural sector. Continue to evaluate and develop Council initiated major event activities. In conjunction with key stakeholders develop a Major Events Strategy for the Hobart area. 8

BUILT AND NATURAL ENVIRONMENT BUILT AND NATURAL ENVIRONMENT Policy Statement The Hobart City Council will maximise the interpretation, promotion & celebration of Hobart s cultural heritage and its unique built and natural environment. Support festivals, events, activities and projects that focus on Hobart s cultural heritage, history and its built and natural environment. Give priority to festivals, events and activities seeking funding from the Cultural Grants Program that celebrate and profile these qualities. Include within the Carnegie Gallery program exhibitions that relate to Hobart s heritage and natural and built environment. Identify appropriate opportunities for artists in projects, including: > artists in all disciplines working in site-specific ways; > the celebration / noting of significant milestones / anniversaries; and > the use of key heritage sites and public places for a range of projects, festivals and events. Continue to provide opportunities for artists as part of Council s built and natural environment enhancement / redevelopment projects. Develop a suitable public art program for Hobart that: > reviews the Council s current public art process; > considers public art models used by other cities; and > engages and actively involves relevant stakeholders. 9

BUILT AND NATURAL ENVIRONMENT Encourage the better use of public and commercial spaces, and Council facilities and venues. Establish a facilities and venues policy / strategy for arts and cultural use of Council owned and operated assets, public spaces, including parks and reserves, for festivals, events and activities. Work with festivals, events and arts and cultural organisations to facilitate the use of a variety of Council and non-council owned venues and spaces. Encourage the development of arts and cultural projects which utilise spaces not normally used for such activities, such as store / shop windows especially in the Hobart Central Business District. Continue to stage Council initiated programs, events and activities in public spaces including parks and other Council owned facilities. Identify, document and interpret Aboriginal culture and heritage and its contemporary expression. Work with the Aboriginal community to document and interpret culture in a variety of ways, including: > artists working in site specific ways; > the celebration / noting of significant milestones / anniversaries; > using key Aboriginal heritage sites and public places for a range of projects, festivals and events; and > featuring and promoting Aboriginal culture in Council programs, especially the Carnegie Gallery. As part of the Council s consultation process, discuss with the Aboriginal community, appropriate ways to mark the Bicentenary of European founding of Hobart. 10

CITY IDENTITY CITY IDENTITY Policy Statement The Hobart City Council will develop and support a distinctive City identity that focuses on the cultural life of Hobart. Define and identify Hobart as an arts and cultural leader within the state. In partnership with other organisations, work towards the presentation of a year long, City-wide program of events that: > addresses any gaps, service duplication or overlaps; and > programs suitable new initiatives such as winter type activities including symposia, festivals, gallery visits, etc. Support and develop arts, cultural and tourism uses for the Sullivans Cove precinct and the development of facilities in that area. Assist in the development and promotion of key cultural precincts such as the Cultural Park (including the new skate park facility) and North Hobart. Promote and market Hobart s strengths. In conjunction with other stakeholders develop a tourism and marketing strategy that focuses on: > visual arts, crafts, design, performing arts and literature; > existing cultural assets and facilities; and > festivals and special events. Continue to develop the City of Hobart Art Prize as a major national art prize. Continue to facilitate and support events and activities which highlight performing artists in all forms of practice. Continue to work with the City s visual artists, craftspeople and designers in developing the Carnegie Gallery exhibition program. Promote and support the status of Hobart as a centre of knowledge in the arts in Tasmania. Develop strategic partnerships with the University of Tasmania and other educational institutions and arts organisations. Explore and support educational opportunities especially in the post secondary arts and cultural sectors. Provide for scholarships and bursaries through the University of Tasmania. 11

EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT Policy Statement The Hobart City Council will ensure that its arts and cultural programs are relevant, cost effective and of high quality. Improve the provision, management and monitoring of all Council initiated arts and cultural programs and plan for integrated cultural development across all Council activities. Establish the Council s Arts Advisory Committee with appropriate terms of reference and external and internal representation. Seek the advice of the Arts Advisory Committee in the monitoring and implementation of the Council s Arts and Cultural Strategy, and the development and implementation of ongoing arts and cultural activities. Integrate the strategies included in this document into appropriate Council documents such as Operating and Unit Plans, including timelines, resource allocation and measurable performance outcomes. Identify and monitor the needs of the arts and cultural sectors in the development of Council policies and plans, including facilities and spaces. Ensure that Council uses relevant professional guidelines and codes of conduct in its commercial dealings with artists and with arts organisations. Integrate actions from the Council s Aboriginal Strategy as part of the implementation of the Arts and Cultural Strategy. Integrate actions from the Council s Youth Strategy as part of the implementation of the Arts and Cultural Strategy. Ensure that consideration is given to the integration of opportunities for artists across the full range of Council projects and activities. Acknowledgements Front Cover Patrick Hall, Beaumaris Zoo Gates (detail), 2000 Pg 1 Hobart Summer Festival, 2001, photography Nick Osbourne Pg 2 Hermie Cornelisse, Daisy Cup (detail), 1997 Patrick Hall, Beaumaris Zoo Gates (detail), 2000 Elizabeth Mall, photography Nick Osbourne, 2001 Nikki Smith, Palawa Workshop, 2001 Hobart City Council Centre, photograph courtesy of the Australian Society of Art Deco Pg 3 Hernie Cornelisse, Daisy Cup (detail), 1997 Pg 4 Penelope Davis, 'Red 3', 2000 Pg 5 2002 City of Hobart Art Prize Image, design Gordon Harrison-Williams, photography Peter Whyte, 2001 Pg 6 Patrick Hall, Beaumaris Zoo Gates (detail), 2000 Pg 7 Gordon Harrison-Williams, untitled photograph Pg 8 Katherine Hattam, 'Lots of Kitchen Chairs' (detail), 2000 Pg 9 Elizabeth Mall, photography Nick Osbourne, 2001 Pg 10 Sarah Ryan, 'The Real Escape', 2000 Pg 11 Nikki Smith, Palawa Workshop, 2001 Pg 12 Hobart Council Centre, photograph courtesy of the Australian Society of Art Deco. Strategy design Gordon Harrison-Williams. 12

HOBART CITY COUNCIL ARTS AND CULTURAL STRATEGY OCTOBER 2002