Arts Strategy
Topic 23 Consultation Report - Nov 14
Topic 23 - Arts Strategy
About:
Council is currently developing the new Boroondara Arts Strategy which builds on the achievements
of its previous strategy. As current users and participants of Boroondara’s arts and cultural venues
and events, Council sought to better understand the experiences of those who participate in art and
culture activities on all levels. It also sought to identify ways to strengthen and improve how arts and
culture is delivered across the municipality.
What we asked the community:
In early 2014, the City of Boroondara conducted face to face surveys in relation to arts and culture at
the following community events:
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Boroondara Sustainable Living Festival
Ashburton Festival
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Kew Community Festival
Burwood Village Festival
Glenferrie Road Festival
A total of 279 responses were received.
A second online survey focussing on the commitments in the previous Arts and Culture Strategy was
sent to the Boroondara Community Voice Panel and distributed to the community in May/June 2014.
A total of 108 responses were received.
In August-September 2014 Quantum Market Research conducted a third and final survey on behalf
of the City of Boroondara. This survey was distributed:
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by email (with a link to the survey website embedded in the invitation)
by regular mail (with a postcard containing a QR code to access the website)
via hard copy at all Boroondara Libraries
on the City of Boroondara webpage as well as the Boroondara’s Bulletin’s webpage
ekiosks (a shorter version was provided for this medium).
A total of 109 responses were received for the full survey and a further 87 responses were received
via Ekiosks.
Two face to face community consultation events were also conducted by Quantum.
Summary of results
The following report summarises the findings and analysis by Quantum Market Research.
Perceptions of arts and culture
Respondents to the surveys and those who attended the community consultations tended to agree
that support of art and culture in Boroondara is important (even critical) as arts and culture bring
numerous benefits to the community. Interest in various art forms varies across the community,
requiring a diverse arts and culture program to deliver interesting and engaging programming to the
various demographics within the Boroondara community.
Council’s role in the arts
While there tended to be a perception that, overall, Council puts considerable effort into delivering an
array of arts and culture programming, many were unclear about what Council’s exact role in
supporting the arts was meant to be. Results indicated more emphasis should be placed on:
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More participative activities and events (rather than a focus on delivering arts events for the
community to passively consume).
More programming focusing on younger audiences (from children and families through to
teenagers and adults aged under 50).
A more diverse range of programming, including more experimental and contemporary art,
and events and activities reflecting the cultural diversity within the City of Boroondara.
More street art and public sculpture.
Visual art within Council buildings, rather than having artworks mostly confined to the
acknowledged “arts” venues.
Respondents tended to perceive all seven of the commitments in the current City of Boroondara Arts
and Culture Strategy as being quite important. Respondents rated “Spaces and facilities” as most
important, followed by “Participation and partnerships” and “Communication and marketing”.
When asked to nominate which commitment they would most like to see carried over from the current
strategy to the new strategy, the priorities changed slightly. “Spaces and facilities” continued to take
first place, but this was followed by prioritisation of “New and emerging practices” and “Identity and
connections.”
Council’s arts facilities
In general the three key Boroondara arts facilities were generally perceived as magnificent heritage
buildings and state of the art facilities the City of Boroondara should be proud of. Suggestions for
improvements included:
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Creation of more of a welcoming community atmosphere within the facilities.
Better signage at the Hawthorn Arts Centre (e.g. with banners at the entrance), so everyone
knows what (and where) it is.
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More promotion of the venues, particularly the Town Hall Gallery and Kew Court House,
which are less well-known than the Hawthorn Arts Centre.
More flexibility in relation to catering requirements at the Hawthorn Arts Centre:
o to make the venue more affordable for not-for-profit groups to use, and
o permit flexibility so where necessary alternative types of food can be served (e.g. for
specific cultural event and festivals).
While perceptions indicated the three key facilities were exceptional arts venues there were
persistent concerns over a lack of inexpensive, accessible and suitable venues in Boroondara for
more casual arts and culture activities and events. Respondents indicated there was a need for:
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meeting rooms for community groups,
art studios for hire,
venues for art groups to practice their art, and
suitable venues for public performances (particularly for smaller not-for-profit groups).
Marketing and communications
Research identified some gaps in the marketing and communications activities undertaken in relation
to arts and culture events and activities in Boroondara.
Among those who attended the community consultations, awareness of arts and culture events and
activities tended to be higher, although this audience were all already involved in the arts in some
way and therefore were unlikely to be representative of the general Boroondara community.
Nevertheless, even among this relatively well-informed group there were a number of suggestions for
improved communications:
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Provision of a calendar of events (similar to what the National Gallery of Victoria provides),
both on the Hawthorn Arts Centre website (in a format that can be filtered and searched in
multiple ways), and also available in a printed format for those not connected to the internet.
Information about availability of spaces for hire in Boroondara for use by individual artists and
groups, including both permanent and temporary spaces. Ideally such information would be
accompanied by information about whether each space offers disabled access, offers
adequate parking, etc. Such information would likely change regularly and so would be most
useful in an online format.
Promoting partnerships
There was a great deal of support for the idea of promoting cross-community and cross-Council
partnerships. Some of the key suggestions for promoting cross-community partnerships included:
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Co-ordination of a central directory or portal where artists and community groups can see
what resources are available in Boroondara (e.g. studios/venues/equipment for hire, a list of
local artists/musicians/performers and their contact details, a list of community groups with
contact details, etc.)
An online directory of contacts within Council for different arts and culture functions (e.g. who
to contact for venue hire, catering, organising permits, applying for grants, etc.)
Provision of networking opportunities for artists and arts groups.
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Targeting communications to organisations such as retirement villages, disability support
services, youth groups, etc. in relation to events that are likely to be particularly suited to their
clients’/members’ needs.
Additionally, some of the key suggestions for promoting cross-Council partnerships included:
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Ensuring staff are sent relevant information about upcoming activities and events so they can
pass them on to their own contacts if appropriate.
Interdepartmental meetings to identify partnership opportunities, preferably before planning
the next year’s arts and culture program.
Additional issues raised
Additional issues were raised in the community consultations are listed below:
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Participants indicated a need for an Arts and Culture Council Directory which they could use
to determine who they should speak to for different issues and requests related to arts and
culture.
Members of several not-for-profit arts groups expressed an interest in Council providing
access to training in non-arts skills (e.g. marketing, writing grants applications) via workshops
or personal assistance from a Council staff member.
Recommendations
Survey responses indicated all aspects of the 2008 - 2013 Arts and Culture Strategy are perceived to
be both important and useful. Results suggested the new strategy could be an updated strategy
based around the same seven commitments outlined in the 2008 - 2013 Arts and Culture Strategy.
Recommendations have been organised around the current seven commitments:
Spaces and facilities
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Make the current facilities more accessible to the community – e.g. better signage on the
exterior of the Hawthorn Arts Centre to entice people inside (and make people aware of
the Town Hall Gallery), making any future catering contract less restrictive.
o
More access to informal spaces, studios/messy spaces, locations for community groups
(potential exists for Council to set develop an online hub which can be used to connect
artists and groups with suitable spaces for hire).
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More access to inexpensive accessible community facilities (could there be a role here for
Council to offer grants to schools/church halls/etc. that would like to create disabled
access to their venues).
Participation and partnerships
o
Co-ordination of a central directory or portal where artists and community groups can see
what resources are available in Boroondara (e.g. studios/venues/equipment for hire, a list
of local artists/musicians/performers and their contact details, a list of community groups
with contact details, etc.).
o
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An online directory of contacts within Council for different arts and culture functions (e.g.
who to contact for venue hire, catering, organising permits, applying for grants, etc.)
Provision of networking opportunities for artists and arts groups.
Targeting communications to organisations such as retirement villages, disability support
services, youth groups, etc. in relation to events that are likely to be particularly suited to
their clients’/members’ needs.
Facilitation of more participative activities and events.
Communication and marketing
o
A single cohesive calendar of events (ideally customisable and printable) on the Hawthorn
Arts Centre/Town Hall Gallery/Kew Court House website.
o
Provision of a printed calendar of events periodically (available via libraries, local
newspaper, etc.).
o
Create greater awareness both within and outside of Council of what is happening in the
arts in Boroondara, including not only events and productions in Boroondara’s premier
facilities but also via Neighbourhood Houses, community groups, etc.
New and emerging practices
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Support and promotion of emerging artists within the community.
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More opportunity given to performing/displaying/engaging in experimental and
contemporary art.
Identity and connections
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Continued support for festivals and events.
o
A more diverse range of programming, reflecting the cultural diversity within the City of
Boroondara.
o
A more diverse range of programming, with additional focus on younger audiences (from
children and families through to teenagers and younger adults).
Continuous improvement
o
Review the processes and forms required for established festivals and events in respect
to the grants program.
Integrated planning
o
Interdepartmental meetings to identify partnership opportunities, preferably before
planning the next year’s arts and culture programming.
Next Steps
Arts and Culture is currently reviewing the feedback obtained from the consultation. The new
Boroondara Arts Strategy will be informed by this consultation with consideration of other
plans and strategies within Council.
A draft Boroondara Arts Strategy will be put forward for public consultation in March 2015.
Upon review and examination of this consultation the final Boroondara Arts Strategy will be
developed and delivered to Council for endorsement in April 2015.
It is expected the new Boroondara Arts Strategy will be launched in May 2015 with the aims
and objectives contained within actioned thereafter.