The Local Government Association and State Government of South Australia have launched a kit to help plan around $67 million a year in cultural spending. Minister Assisting the Premier in the Arts, John Hill, said the kit highlights 25 examples of ‘good practice’ Council policies, projects and activities.
“Many Councils are in an excellent position to promote the arts and this kit will help them understand how important the cultural, economic, social, artistic, employment and environmental outcomes can be,” he said. LGA Vice President, Tony Zappia, said recognition of Local Government’s involvement in arts and culture was overdue.
“Councils are involved in galleries, museums, public art and cultural development, which help to build communities,” he said.
The kit is an initiative of the Creative Communities Network, a group of Local Government arts and cultural officers. The network jointly funded the kit with Arts SA, the Local Government Research and Development Scheme and Country Arts SA.
Chairperson, Matthew Ives, said Councils were doing ’fantastic’ work with local communities.
“This kit focuses on how Councils can work even more closely with their communities,” he said.
The project involved an audit of Councils’ involvement in arts and culture, following a policy adopted at the LGA’S 2002 AGM.
For further information, including a copy of the kit, audit report and LGA policy, visit www.lga.sa.gov.au/goto/artsandculture
