Have your say on Auckland’s arts and culture

Calling all arts aficionados, cultural connoisseurs and anyone interested in arts and culture – it’s time to have your say on how Auckland’s arts and culture can develop over the next decade.

The Draft Arts and Culture Strategic Action Plan, which aims to deliver on the Auckland Plan’s vision to ‘integrate arts and culture into our everyday lives’, opens for public consultation today.
The draft action plan sets out a five to ten year strategic direction for the planning and delivery of arts and cultural activities in Auckland. It identifies six goals and supporting key actions to meet the challenges of Auckland’s continued growth, changing demographics and increasing international competitiveness in the creative sector, with a focus on making arts and culture accessible to everyone.

The draft action plan was approved by the Arts, Culture and Events Committee last Wednesday with committee members in agreement that the plan provides a sound base for further discussion with Aucklanders.

Chair of the committee, Councillor Alf Filipaina says the draft responds to the Auckland Plan statement: ‘Auckland expects that our arts and culture will thrive, unite, delight, challenge and entertain, and also drive wealth and prosperity for individuals and for Auckland.’

“During engagement for the Auckland Plan, arts and culture featured in its power to deliver on the transformational shifts required to make Auckland the world’s most liveable city”, he says.

“To reach all parts of our region, both urban and rural, inner city and suburbs, and to make arts and culture programs relevant to the different communities who live here requires a focused plan.”

Mr Filipaina says the ‘whole of Auckland’ plan will be delivered in partnership with other key stakeholders in the arts and culture sector.

To date, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage, Creative New Zealand, Creative Coalition, ASB Community Trust, Independent Māori Statutory Board, and Pacific People Advisory Panel have worked with the council to develop the draft.

Aucklanders are encouraged to head to shapeauckland.co.nz to read the draft action plan and to share their thoughts through an online submission.

The public consultation period ends at 5pm on Thursday 24 July 2014.
ENDS

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