Thank you to everyone who provided feedback on Creative Banyule: Arts and Culture Strategy 2023 - 2031 and the
Year 1 Action Plan. The Strategy was adopted by Council on 20 November 2023.

What we've achieved over the past 12 months

View the Year 1 Achievements Report.

Year 1 outcomes

• Consulted local artists to guide capability building and future facility needs.
• Developed a Festivals Framework for event planning.
• Featured First Nations artists and cultural content across programs.
• Improved access and inclusion at major festivals.
• Upgraded climate controls at Art Gallery 275 to museum standards.
• Embedded arts and culture outcomes into several civic and capital projects.

The Year 2 Action Plan has 42 actions that will progress the Strategy through its five (5) focus areas. Actions include:

• A feasibility study and options analysis to map arts and culture spaces and assess current and future needs in Banyule.
• Promote Ivanhoe Library and Cultural Hub through the Early Impressions exhibition of artworks by Heidelberg School artists loaned through the 'Sharing the National Collection' program.
• Commission a First Nations artist to create a new public artwork at Heidelberg Gardens.
• Deliver a community activation in Beale Ward and plan for a major event in Ivanhoe, in line with the Festivals and Events Framework.
• Trial the use of sustainable initiatives throughout the festival season, such as reusable food serving dishes to reduce packaging.

Thank you to everyone who participated in community engagement activities in early 2023.

Engagement with Banyule's community has been an integral part of the Strategy's development and supported us to explore trends and opportunities to develop objectives, commitments and outcomes that are relevant to you.

What we did

During February and March 2023, we ran a survey and a series of focus groups to seek your feedback on the draft vision, focus areas and potential actions. 141 community members participated in these activities, including 54 completing the survey and 87 attending focus groups.

What you told us

View the full findings report from the recent engagement activities, or check out the data snapshot below.

This is what you came up with when we asked you to tell us three words that best describe arts and culture in Banyule.

Analysis of open field responses found the following key themes to support writing the Creative Banyule Strategy:

In early 2023 we completed a Summary Report and Literature Review to understand the national, state and local policy contexts that will impact the Creative Banyule Strategy.

Following consultation with our Arts and Culture Advisory Committee, which is made up of Banyule community members, four focus areas were identified for the Review:

1. First Nations including treaty, cultural heritage and intellectual property
2. Creativity and Culture including arts, culture, creative industries, digital culture, participation and cultural policy drivers
3. Social Innovation, Diversity and Equity including cultural and human rights, equality, disability, LGBTIQA+ and young people
4. Placemaking and Cultural Infrastructure including libraries, performing arts, galleries and public engagement with place.

The Review helped to keep the Strategy relevant and responsive to the needs of the community and to draft the five Strategic Focus Areas you gave feedback on during community engagement in March 2023.

Arts and culture have grown at Banyule over recent years with the launch of the Ivanhoe Library and Cultural Hub and
increased interest in public art. The community also told us about the importance of art and culture during engagement on Banyule's Community Vision 2041 and Council Plan.

Development of the Creative Banyule Strategy will build on our Arts and Culture Strategic Plan 2017-2021 and
Public Art Policy and is a commitment by Council to re-imagine creative, cultural and artistic life in Banyule. The process to develop the Strategy was a whole-of-community approach to ensure that arts and culture in Banyule reflect our collective vision.