Ash Bolt
A group of Geelong-based creative, cultural and advocacy organisations is pushing for the region to be a “magnet” for the creative industries as the sector begins its recovery from lockdowns.
Geelong MP Christine Couzens recently launched the region’s first Creative Industries Strategy, which focuses on skills development, community engagement, increased investment, cultural tourism and digital access as the keys to supporting the creative sector.
The creative industries sector employs 8.1 per cent of the Australian workforce with recent data showing employment in the sector grew at three times the rate of the Australian workforce.
Project steering committee chairwoman and Committee for Geelong chief executive Jennifer Cromarty said the ‘Making Change’ strategy development process had included consultation with broad range of stakeholders to ensure it would support all facets of the industry.
“During lockdown periods, many of us drew comfort and joy from reading books, purchasing artworks and well-designed product, watching movies and listening to music all the while knowing that these sectors were among the hardest hit,” she said.
“This strategy aims to address the impacts of COVID-19 and provide a roadmap to enable the region’s creative sector to embrace economic and social growth opportunities.”
The five-year strategy was funded by the state government through Regional Development Victoria.
Ms Couzens said the strategy was an important step to helping the sector recover.
“The Making Change Creative Industries Strategy recognises the growth and opportunity in the region’s creative industries sector, a sector that has been hit hard during the pandemic,” she said.
“I wish to congratulate the collaboration of eight local organisations who have driven this project to completion.”
The strategy was support by financial contributions from the Committee for Geelong, G21 Geelong Regional Alliance, Geelong Arts Centre, Geelong Gallery, Creative Geelong Inc, Platform Arts, Back to Back Theatre and Geelong Regional Library Corporation.
“The G21 region has always had a substantial body of artists, musicians and creators of all types – and there are many new arrivals due to the great ‘COVID migration’,” G21 Geelong Regional Alliance chief executive Giulia Baggio said.
“This strategy will help our creatives flourish, bringing together talent and ideas and establishing spaces to allow creativity of all kinds to take place at the centre of our communities.”
The next step for the project steering committee will be to form a taskforce to oversee the implementation of the strategy.
The strategy can be accessed at bit.ly/3x9ShEC.
