G21’s Creative Industries Strategy funded

THE next generation of creative performers, technicians and workers will be created in the first stage of the G21 region’s first Creative Industries Strategy, which is now funded by the state government.

Released in October 2021, the strategy, titled “Making Change”, provides a framework for a more strategic and co-ordinated approach between the public, private and not-for-profit sectors for the development of the region’s creative industries.

It aims to inform and guide government and industry priorities, investments and initiatives to achieve sector development, economic growth and employment.

The state government has provided $460,000 for stage one of the strategy, which will see Geelong Arts Centre be the “Auspicing Partner” to support the strategy’s delivery phase.

Geelong Arts Centre will work with the creative sector – broadly defined as arts, culture, screen, design, publishing, advertising and everything in between – to deliver priority actions, including a digital directory of regional creative hubs, skills development, creative networking and connecting, and a First Nations engagement plan and stakeholder management.

 

The Creative Engine co-working space inside Geelong Arts Centre will host the strategy’s project delivery office and employ a “Delivering Change” strategy manager.

Committee for Geelong chief executive officer Jennifer Cromarty said the creation of the strategy, developed in collaboration between local arts organisations, was “quite a passion project” for her.

“It’s something that when I took the job at the Committee for Geelong four years ago was a priority.

“Four or five years ago, we weren’t really talking about the creative industries sector like we are now in Geelong.

“Since then, we’ve had the UNESCO City of Design designation come on board; we’ve got the Clever and Creative vision, that’s a community vision, a 30-year vision housed by the City of Greater Geelong; and getting a Creative Industries Strategy for this region, I think, tells a really important story about who we are.”

Minister for Creative Industries Steve Dimopoulos visited Geelong Arts Centre on Tuesday this week to announce the funding, alongside Geelong MP Christine Couzens, Geelong Arts Centre chief executive officer and creative director Joel McGuinness, and G21 chief executive officer Giulia Baggio.

 

Mr Dimopoulous congratulated the strategy team for their work so far.

“You as a group, you as a region, have dreamed big in relation to creative Industries in the arts through that strategy document that will see arts filled to a beautiful vision over the future,” he said.

“So we want to match your ability to dream big by giving you the resources to implement the first stage of that strategy.”

He also announced Godfrey Hirst Carpets and Jacaranda Industries had just signed up as local suppliers to the $140 million Little Malop Street redevelopment at Geelong Arts Centre.