Cultural Policy in Australian Regional Areas
... EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The purpose of this report is to evaluate six regional local government cultural policies in relation to Council perceptions of the social value of arts and culture. This report provides a thematic analysis of the content of the cultural policies of Broome (WA), Joondalup (WA), Gold Coast (Qld), Thuringowa (Qld), Blacktown (NSW) and Wollongong (NSW). ... The policies exhibited significant variation in policy instruments (direct vs. indirect) but there are thematic similarities across the selected regional areas. There are three key themes in the six policies, containing sub-objectives which denote the desired social outcomes from these theme areas. The themes identified illustrate that the regional local government policies have shared visions and are focused on common themes. The key themes identified include access and participation; cultural diversity; and partnerships. The development of cultural policies for regional cities draws attention to the significance of social resources and the recognition of the importance of culture and creative activity in the development of sustainable communities. ... The predominant sub-objectives falling under each key theme include spatial limitations and poor urban design; social connectedness and inclusion; indigenous cultural; community empowerment and self-determination; and personal development. The common economic foci of these documents placed importance on the provision of cultural infrastructure and direct funding to arts education and cultural activities. ... Instead, these more conventional forms of cultural policy are geared to the purposes of social integration and cultural development as highlighted through the sub-objectives mentioned above. This report identifies the implications for these regional cities in further exploiting their cultural policies to promote the social value of participation in the arts. ... INTRODUCTION This report provides an analysis of the content of the cultural policies of six regional cities in Australia. ... Appendix 1 presents a table of themes and issues for the selected local government cultural policies in these regional areas. The key headings are access and participation, cultural diversity and partnerships. This appendix illustrates that regional cities have shared visions and are focused on common themes. However, it also show that biggest gap in cultural policy is benchmarks and indicators. A comparative of the regional cities local government cultural policy thrust are presented in a table in Appendix 2. ... 2 Scope This report draws together six local government cultural policies from regional areas in Australia including the Broome, WA; Joondalup, WA; Gold Coast, Qld; Thuringowa, Qld; Blacktown, NSW; and Wollongong, NSW. It discuses the emergent themes in relation to the social value issues of access and participation, cultural diversity and partnerships. ... 3 Methodology The method for evaluation involved a thorough analysis of documents which comprise six local government cultural policies in Australia. ... KEY THEMES IN CULTURAL POLICIES There are three common content areas in the six policies containing sub-objectives which translate into actions and initiatives. These themed content areas in the chosen cultural policies are: § access and participation; § cultural diversity; and § partnerships. ... These are issues that relate to community and individual modes of access to cultural activities and how they can actively participate. ... 1 Spatial limitations and Urban Design The geography of Wollongong is a significant barrier to cultural cohesiveness and access & participation in arts and culture. ... “This directly impacts the accessibility of cultural facilities, the number of local facilities needed … and city cohesiveness” (Wollongong City Council, 1998 p. ... Wollongong has identified strategies through artists in the community programmes, a cultural projects grants program aimed at encouraging cultural development projects in the Wollongong’s various “villages” or neighbourhoods. ... Due to Blacktown’s lack of existing infrastructure the policy has identified investing in venue development that is “really feasible, viable and will serve the overarching aim of Community cultural development” (Blacktown City Council, 2002 p. ... Bianchini (1993) advocates such strategies as those adopted by Wollongong local authorities suggesting, “one way of addressing such conflicts in the spatial distribution of cultural provision would be to strengthen or, in some cases, create from scratch neighbourhood-based arts facilities” (p. ... “Policies focussing exclusively on city centre-based developments in some case can alienate civic residents and the establishment of certain part of cities as ‘cultural districts’ can generate gentrification, displacement of some local residents and some facilities catering for local people of outer areas” (p. ... The linear nature of coastal development of the Gold Coast has also been identified as a concern for local policy-makers. ... In an attempt to counteract this spatial dilemma, the Gold Coast City Council stipulates the establishment of decentralised resource hubs and programs as a main goal of its policy, in order to enhance geographic accessibility for the public and capacity building. Geographic limitations can be exacerbated by poor urban design as witnessed in other regional areas through out Australia associated with the decline of “main street”. ... Both Wollongong and Blacktown seek to redress this loss of community and cultural meeting places by slightly differing cultural policies.