Sydney Cultural Infrastructure Study
Client: City of Sydney
Location: Sydney, NSW
Year: 2018-2019
Making space for creativity
Brief
The City of Sydney is a national leader in delivering support for the creative and cultural industries. The 2014 Creative City Cultural Policy and Action Plan, and the Live Music and Performance Action Plan, set a precedent for how local governments can offer tangible support to the creative industries through a broad range of actions and initiatives. Nearly 5 years after the release of the 2014 Creative City Cultural Policy and Action Plan, many actions had been implemented and many had not. The City of Sydney wanted to understand alternative ways to meet their commitments, drawing on international expertise and best practice.
Approach
Left Bank Co. and JOC Consulting partnered to deliver an in-depth cultural infrastructure study for the City of Sydney’s Cultural Strategy team. We analysed years of research and international benchmarks to significantly evolve the City’s understanding of the current gaps and barriers that are preventing the increase in supply of cultural and creative space. Engagement and testing with internal stakeholders and external sector leaders further refined our understanding of the opportunities and pathways available and resulted in the drafting of a discussion paper to communicate our findings and elevate the importance of innovative cultural infrastructure planning for Sydney.
Impact
This study has been a significant step in evolving the thinking, planning and processes within the City of Sydney to change the way Council approaches its responsibility to make space for culture. It has provided a critical evidence base for input into the City’s Sydney 2050 strategy, Local Strategic Planning Statement and other strategic planning documents, as well as setting a precedent for other Councils and government departments to follow.