Arts, culture and creative industries

Creative Blueprint

The Shire has a diverse array of emerging and professional artists who practice crafts ranging from oil paintings to street performances. Alongside this, is a rich and wonderfully biodiverse natural environment which often influences creative processes. There is potential for growth within the area of art and culture that will result in enriching the lives of residents as well as attracting visitors. Supporting these activities results in greater civic pride and is often good for our physical, mental and spiritual health. The Creative Blueprint is a plan that outlines actions that will help to bring the goals of the community to fruition. 

The Creative Blueprint provides a four year cultural planning framework to complement the Shire’s Community Strategic Plan, and will be used to:

• Reinforce the Shire’s commitment to fostering creativity and artistic activity
• Guide the future delivery of the Shire’s  art and cultural programs, services and activities
• Assist with the planning, development and resourcing of cultural facilities
• Support organisations and groups to provide arts, cultural and heritage services
• Better position the Shire to access funds for local arts, cultural and heritage activities

To view a copy of the Creative Blueprint click here

The Creative Blueprint (and associated policies) is currently under review. Community engagement has been gathered over the last year and is being used to inform for the policy and plan. To stay up to date on this work click here to view the project Your Say page.

Public Art Policy

Through the application of this Public Art Policy the Shire propose to:

• Continue to enhance cultural life, not only through supporting cultural activities and events but via high quality and meaningful public and community art that will enliven and provoke thought in public spaces
• Acknowledge and celebrate the culture and history of the Shire through art
• Encourage high quality art that supports local artists and the emerging art and cultural industry
• Identify locations suitable for public art trails.

The Policy inludes a per cent for art component which facilitates the provision of public art works through the requirement for all developments (excluding private homes, subdivisions, rural and industrial development) above a value of $1,000,000 (including GST) to allocate one per cent of the value of the development to public art as outlined in the Developer Contribution Policy. 

To view a copy of the Public Art Policy click here

The Public Art Collection document provides a summary of all public artworks vested to, purchased by, or commissioned by the Shire. 

Culturally Active Communities Policy

The Culturally Active Communities Policy describes the Shire’s commitment to a thriving art and cultural scene. The objectives of the Policy are:

• To ensure that the Shire of Augusta Margaret River’s (the Shire) cultural sector is active, energising and attracts people.
• That the region’s cultural richness is illuminated and fosters well being and social cohesion.
• The cultural scene tells the story of both our Indigenous and multi-cultural heritage as well as expresses who we are now through all disciplines of creative and storytelling industries.
• To align the Shire of Augusta Margaret River policy with relevant Federal, State and Regional policies.

To view a copy of the Culturally Active Communities Policy click here