New Arts and Culture Strategy underway

Published on 09 February 2022

Monash Council invites our community to shape its next Arts and Culture Strategy 2025.

The Strategy will develop a vision supporting growth, recovery and celebration of creative and cultural industries, organisations and individuals, to inspire the Monash community.

Council acknowledges that creative and cultural development increases our connection to place, and improves mental and physical wellbeing. Creative and cultural industries boost the local economy and create employment.

In the 2021 Monash Health and Wellbeing survey, 81 per cent of the 375 respondents rated as important the benefits of arts and culture to mental health.

Mayor Stuart James said the Strategy would support and nurture Monash’s thriving arts community.

“From multicultural dance, contemporary music, visual and performing arts, festivals, public art, maker markets and Australia’s leading institutions for photography, art, design and architecture, Monash is home to spaces, places and people that provide an invaluable service and positive experience for our community,” Cr James said.  

“Our arts and cultural communities were some of the hardest hit during the COVID-19 pandemic and many of us turned to the arts to get us through lockdowns and restrictions. We’re looking forward to helping forge a stronger relationship between Monash’s artistic and broader communities.” 

The Arts and Culture Strategy will provide a focus with clear actions to activate new and innovative projects based on data, to support community and commercial enterprises to flourish in Monash.

The Strategy will:

• Connect with the community and increase positive experiences through inspiration transformation and learning.
• Support the arts and cultural industry to lead Monash through COVID-19 relief and recovery and strengthen community health and wellbeing outcomes.
• Develop a whole of City vision that supports growth, recovery and celebration of creative and cultural industries, organisations and individuals.
• Consult with key external groups.

To have your say visit Council’s Shape Monash page by Sunday 20 March 2022.