The Central Coast should be the pilot region for a new State Government Arts, Culture and Creative Industries Policy, according to Central Coast Council.
This would include the State Government financially contributing towards an internationally recognised Festival of the Arts on the Central Coast.
Council has put the Coast forward for the pilot in a letter to the State Government, saying it would meet numerous strategic objectives identified in a raft of local and regional plans to stimulate local economic activity.
Earlier this year, the State Government released a discussion paper, A New Look At Culture.
It requested written responses and held more than 20 meetings across NSW seeking input from artists, creative industry practitioners, musicians, organisations and community members.
Council says all the evidence points to the need for more support on the Coast to capitalise on the emergence of artistic and cultural activity.
“While the Central Coast has been historically overshadowed by our urban neighbours in Sydney and Newcastle, we are witnessing rapid growth in the arts, cultural and creative industries sector locally particularly in the fields of literature, visual arts, independent performing arts (particularly in dance and physical theatre), film and screen, game developers, music and multidisciplinary arts, which have significantly diversified the traditional forms of creative practice that have historically underpinned our cultural landscape,” Council said in its response.
“While we have a solid foundation, it is crucial to address the challenges that our artists and creative industries face in terms of sustainable support.”
Council said that without adequate funding, resources and access to relevant venues and spaces, many local talented individuals would consider moving to more resource-rich regions.
And it would risk losing many who had recently relocated to the Coast if clear pathways to professional development and opportunities to showcase their work were not available.
“We already know this is a significant issue faced by many high-calibre artists and practitioners who currently reside on the Central Coast but must seek work opportunities outside the area due to the lack of local support,” Council said.
“Historically, the Central Coast, a growing area of 350,000 people, has rarely received any funding support for the arts from other levels of government and was often entirely overlooked – seemingly adrift and viewed as neither metropolitan nor regional.
“The NSW State Government enjoys significant resources (comparative to Council) and by working together we could drive significant change in our region and provide the blueprint for positive and lasting impacts in the arts and culture sector across the state.”
Some of the outcomes from this collaborative approach could include developing a not-for-profit managed multi-artform hub and a not-for-profit managed “rolling fund” supported by both Council and the State Government with matching investment from the private sector.
“This model would offer a mechanism that is locally controlled and alert to local needs to which arts organisations and individual artists can apply, plus provide a neutral decision-making process in which business and governments could be assured that their contributions are professionally managed and well spent,” Council said.
Council also wants increased investment in dedicated tertiary pathways for performing, visual arts and creative industries on the Coast with direct investment in young people.
It said the region was acknowledged as one of five NSW urban growth centres, but did not have a state-funded cultural facility, nor a dedicated regional arts body.
Input to the discussion paper, A New Look at Culture, from other councils and organisations around NSW is now under review by the State Government.
Merilyn Vale