Have your say on your local arts programs

People across South West Victoria can have their say on a new regional creative strategy via a public feedback survey launched this month.

This is the first glimpse at the draft South West Creative Industries Strategy 2025-2029, a regional approach to uplifting the sector over the next four years.

The Strategy builds on 18 years of work in the region by Regional Arts Victoria with support from federal, state and local governments, traditional owners, industry bodies, philanthropic organisations and community.

The first strategy saw a four-year commitment from regional stakeholders including Corangamite Shire, Glenelg Shire, Moyne Shire, Southern Grampians Shire and Warrnambool City Council to support the sector, with commitment for another four-year term being sought in early 2025.

Regional Arts Victoria CEO Jo Porter said the creative energy in Victoria’s South West was palpable.

“From individual makers and creative organisations to multimillion-dollar local government and tertiary education projects, we see the creative, wellbeing and economic benefits of a region-wide approach by private sector philanthropy, local and state government and the Federal Government’s Regional Arts Fund,” Jo said.

The evaluation of the 2020-2024 Strategy shows that the region has benefitted from approximately $12 million in funding for creative venues and projects over this period.

In Corangamite Shire significant funding was secured to commission Keerray Wooroong artist, Dr Vicki Couzens, to design integrated artwork including forged tiles and mosaic artworks alongside light and sound works as part of the Port Campbell Town Centre Revitalisation Project.

Katy McMahon, Manager Economy & Prosperity at Corangamite Shire Council, said that council had relied on the strategy to attain funding for projects that deliver not only on Council plans, but on regional priorities.

“We’ve funded infrastructure improvements, for example at business case and staging plans for Camperdown’s Theatre Royal, and have and tapped into opportunities, advice and networks through this regional partnership, including developing our first Artist in Residence program for Light Up Camperdown and engaging a First Nations artist to shape the Graze The Day event,“ Katy said.

Creative organisations who have successfully used the strategy to advocate for funding include both One Day Studios and the Find Your Voice Collective, each based in Warrnambool.

These organisations have diversified their income, tapping into the strategy and the advice of Regional Arts Victoria where appropriate, to deliver projects and fund positions focussed on long-term creative career sustainability.

RAV’s Southwest Regional Manager, Stacey Barnes urged individuals, organisations and businesses to provide comments on the new strategy.

“In five minutes, you can shape sector support over the next four years,” Stacey said. “Whatever your connection with arts, culture and creativity, we want to hear from you, from what you need to learn, to challenges you need help to overcome, or ideas you’d like to see brought to life.”

Creative industries include disciplines as diverse as visual and performing arts, digital games, fashion, film, literature and publishing, museums, galleries, architecture, design, advertising, comedy, craft and emerging creative technologies.

Young creatives, First Peoples, and creatives who identify as culturally and linguistically diverse, deaf, disabled, neurodivergent or LGBTQIA+ are strongly encouraged to contribute.

About the South West Creative Industries Strategy:

Launched in 2020, the South West Creative Industries Strategy is a result of the partnership between Regional Arts Victoria and the Victorian Government, the Great South Coast Regional Partnership, Corangamite Shire, Glenelg Shire, Moyne Shire, Southern Grampians Shire, Warrnambool City Council, Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism and community representatives designed to support creative industries in southwest Victoria.

The Strategy builds on long-term partnerships and provides a roadmap for supporting creative industry practitioners, organisations and supporters in the southwest of the state.