Creative plan takes shape

LAST week the City of Ballarat held a mass conversation at Ballarat’s Creative City Consultation Gathering.

About 200 locals, creatives and enthusiasts, gathered at a venue in the CBD to chat and provide feedback on the Creative City Strategy draft proposal in an informal yet informative manner.

Incubating, educating and establishing creative talent is a strong theme in the draft proposal with a mission to develop Ballarat as an economy and a community powered by science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics – STEAM.

Dark Shadow Studio CEO Casey Thomas was one of five local creatives on hand to facilitate creative and interactive events while engaging with the attendees.

While demonstrating her video games Ms Thomas said, “I think the Creative City Strategy is going to expand and open a lot of different door’s in people’s minds. I think it is a very positive thing for Ballarat.”

Having studied design, production and business management in Melbourne, Ms Thomas said the draft strategy’s concept of studying and running a creative business in Ballarat was very appealing.

“When I did all my study and game designs, I was constantly on the train every day having it somewhere close to where you live is so much more convenient. I think it is a big drawcard to have your own studio here because it is cheaper.”

City of Ballarat development and planning director Angelique Lush said, “As the responsible director I am very proud of what has emerged out of the strategy.

“It is very exciting to see a merge of our creative industries with some of our economic development and growth areas.”

While the Creative City Strategy was initiated and fund by Council it expects a whole-community approach to delivery.

Ms Lush said, “We all have a role to play and people can contribute in different ways so we expect people to step up and actually be part of this for the benefit of not only themselves but businesses and the future residents and their own children to make sure we get this right.”

Wind & Sky Productions co-founder Lucinda Horrocks was part of the original conversations when the Council sent a call out to the community to explore options for the strategy.

“It was a really interesting experience because as a film maker I’m not considered part of the arts community but I am considered part of the creative community so I welcomed the emphasis on creative industry.”

Ms Horrocks, having skimmed the draft proposal on the night, thought it was a really beautiful aspirational document but considers it will require a lot of the community to come together to support it.

“Where is the funding going to come from – that is the big question mark, [however] it helps to have a plan.”

She was particularly impressed with the strategy’s emphasis on learning and loved the idea that the concept is to develop a learning city and a collaborative city.

“I am really excited by the [idea of how] creativity, coming from our educational institutions, might be made more public and that we can all share in it.

“If you can create a more people centred Ballarat that encourages creativity, I think that would be amazing.”