Overview

MidCoast Council's inaugural Cultural Plan supports the strengthening of the region’s creatives and helps invigorate the local economy.

The MidCoast Cultural Plan 2036 seeks to improve relationships and partnerships, with Council playing both a leadership and facilitation role.

The plan helps to prioritise projects, support cultural infrastructure projects, leverage Council and community groups with State and Federal funding bodies, as well as further educate the MidCoast community about the value of culture.

The MidCoast is home to a diverse number of communities that each have their own unique story. Yet from freshwater to saltwater, bush to beach, MidCoast also shares a strong sense of belonging, community and history.

The MidCoast Cultural Plan 2036 is about identifying how the community can come together to celebrate its unique story, and finding ways to make this easier to do, whether that be by freshening up places, finding out more about local history and each other, or simply getting together (online or offline) and having fun in new ways. It also looks at specific local opportunities to better use existing facilities and resources.

The importance of cultural planning extends beyond arts and culture, recognising the broader lifestyle of residents, economic impacts and the experience of visitors. Cultural planning is about supporting the creative, artistic and cultural aspects of a place and the community.

To view the MidCoast Cultural Plan 2036 document in full-screen in the interactive PDF viewer above, select the bracket icon at the bottom-right side the toolbar to enable full-screen.

If you are having trouble viewing the document in the interactive PDF viewer, you may also download the full MidCoast Cultural Plan 2036 in the Document library on this page.

A strengths-based approach

The MidCoast Cultural Plan 2036 is prepared around four key areas below that respond to community priorities identified in earlier consultation:

  • Landscapes and public places

    The rich and diverse tapestry of landscapes across MidCoast Council that can be improved through culture.

  • First Nations and cultural diversity

    MidCoast Council recognises what was and always will be Aboriginal land and many nationalities that now call it home.

  • Creative and industry

    The region has a vibrant creative community made up of individual artists, collectives and cultural practitioners.

  • Infrastructure and spaces

    Facilities and services that improve our health and wellbeing, are catalysts for economic development and a home for cultural exhibition and production.

Exhibition period

The MidCoast Cultural Plan 2036 was on exhibition until 4:30pm 7 May 2021. Thank you to all those who provided submissions.

Consultation has concluded and the MidCoast Cultural Plan 2036 was adopted on Wednesday 2 June 2021.

Previous consultation

A multi-faceted community engagement process began in July 2020, with more than 650 community members sharing their ideas, beliefs and passions via an online survey, interactive map of local destinations, and community meetings, which culminated in a discussion paper being presented.

The Cultural Plan Reference Group was established to provide guidance, support and advocacy throughout the development of the draft plan and includes two councillors, eight community members and representatives from Arts Mid North Coast and Destination North Coast.

The second round of engagement ran over September and October 2020.

Feedback provided during both rounds of engagement helped Council prepare a Cultural Plan that is anchored in local conversation and research and supports the creative and cultural life of residents, workers and visitors.

A final check-in with the community was run from 29 March to 7 May 2021 with the draft cultural plan on public exhibition and community feedback on the document encouraged.

Interested in similar projects?

Check out our Focus on our Future project, where we are checking in with the community again to update Council's community strategic plan.