Sydney announces development of new cultural policy

Sydney's cultural life will soon go under the microscope after Sydney City Council voted last week to develop a major new Cultural Policy for the city.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore MP has now asked City of Sydney staff to start developing a new policy to guide arts and culture across Sydney, from major events and festivals to literature, film, food, wine and community initiatives.

Over coming months, the City will meet with artists, producers, performers, theatres, galleries, businesses, retailers, residents and visitors to hear their ideas about how the City can further support and encourage a thriving cultural life in Sydney.

The Lord Mayor said Sydney was brimming with creativity and an amazing breadth of community and cultural programs and activities, stating "for the first time, we're putting Sydney's cultural life under the microscope, to take stock of what's already happening and what's needed to help our diverse and dynamic creative industries grow.

"Culture is an integral part of Sydney - our city has a rich connection with Aboriginal history and counts over 200 nationalities as part of our make-up. The support of our city's cultural life already has momentum, now we want to ensure it also has direction.

"The City currently spends more than $23 million each year on culture in Sydney, including our world-class events, grants and sponsorships, public art program and spectacular community facilities. The development of this new policy will bring all the work we're doing together with what's happening in the community and the private sector."

Council staff are already investigating what has worked in other cities, drawing on studies from overseas and international creative industry benchmarks to help guide the development of the Cultural Policy over the next year.

The City's research and results from industry consultation will be presented to Council later this year in an issues paper, which will go on public exhibition to allow the whole community to have their say. It is expected that a final Cultural Policy will be adopted in mid-2013.